Catalyst and Process for Synthesising the Same

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for synthesising tethered ruthenium catalysts and novel tethered ruthenium catalysts obtainable by this methods. The method involves carrying out an “arene swapping” reaction avoiding the requirement to use complicated techniques making use of unreliable Birch reductions and unstable cyclodienyl intermediates.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a process for synthesising catalysts for asymmetric catalysis using a ligand swapping reaction and novel compounds made according to said process and also their use in hydrogenation reactions.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Asymmetric catalysis is an important area of chemistry, invaluable in the production of enantiomerically enriched products. The manufacture of pharmaceuticals and specialised chemical compounds are two particular industries where stereo-selective synthesis is often essential.

Hydrogenation reactions are used in a variety of synthetic methods and asymmetric control of hydrogenation has been well studied. In particular, catalysts for the asymmetric reduction of carbonyl and imino groups have been known for many years.

Ruthenium η-6 arene complexes were first reported as suitable catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation by Noyori, and co-workers (S. Hashiguchi, A. Fujii, J. Takehara, T. Ikariya, R. Noyori, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, vol 117, 7562-7563). These catalysts have been extensively tested and commercialised and are effective at the asymmetric reduction of ketones and imines to alcohols and amines respectively using a number of reducing agents.

Wills reported, in 2005, an improvement of the Noyori catalyst, which demonstrates increased reactivity on a wider range of substrates (A. M. Hayes, D. J. Morris, G. J. Clarkson and M. Wills, Am. Chem Soc, 2005, vol 127, 7318-7319). Wills catalysts, or so called ‘tethered’ catalysts, comprise a ligand having an η-6 arene group co-ordinated to a metal centre, wherein the arene group is also covalently linked to a second portion which co-ordinates to the remaining available positions around the metal centre.

Various synthetic routes have been proposed to make these complexes, many of which require multi-step reactions via a range of complex mechanisms. One such synthesis requires i) Birch reduction of an alcohol using an onerous combination of sodium metal and liquid ammonia, ii) conversion of the alcohol to an aldehyde using Swern oxidation, iii) reductive coupling of the aldehyde with the diamine component, iv) complexation of the product with ruthenium trichloride and v) conversion of the initially formed dimer to a monomer.

An alternative synthesis requires i) Birch reduction of an alcohol, ii) conversion of the alcohol to the tosylate, triflate, mesylate or related reagent, iii) coupling with the diamine component, iv) complexation of the product with ruthenium trichloride and v) conversion of the initially formed dimer to a monomer. Although some of these reactions can be ‘telescoped’ into a shorter practical sequence by performing the last two steps in a ‘one-pot’ process, many of these processes are undesirable.

Further, many of these reactions require the presence of a cyclodienyl intermediate in order for the η-6 arene ring to form and co-ordinate with the metal centre. This cyclodienyl intermediate limits the range of substituents that can be arranged around the arene ring as electron donating groups will cause aromatisation of the ring prior to co-ordination with the metal centre thereby preventing the desired complex from forming.

Various attempts have been made to synthesise these complexes using intramolecular ring swapping reactions such as M. Ito, H. Komatso, Y. Endo and T. Ikariya, Chem. Lett. 2009, 38, 98-99. However, there is no evidence that such approaches do not work with larger multidentate ligand counterparts

The invention is intended to overcome or ameliorate at least some of the problems outlined above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided in a first aspect of the invention, a process for synthesising a compound according to general formula (I), the process comprising the steps of reacting a compound according to general formula (IIa) or (IIb) with the compound according to general formula (III),

wherein R¹-R⁵, R⁶-R⁹ and R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶ each independently, or in combination with another of said substituents (R¹-R⁵, R⁶-R⁹ and R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶) are selected from: H, halide, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, hydroalkyl, haloalkyl, carboalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, CH₂Ar (where Ar is aryl), acyl, carboxy (C═O), alkoxycarbonyl, thiocarbonyl (═S), cyano (CN), hydroxyl, thiol, alkylthiol, amino, acylated amino, NO₂, silyl, SO₂R¹⁰ (where R¹⁰ is defined as for R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶); A is selected from: H, R¹¹, SO₂R¹¹, SOR¹¹, SO₂NR¹¹R¹², P(O)(R¹¹R¹²), P(O)(OR¹¹)(OR¹²), CO₂R¹¹, wherein R¹¹ and R¹² are defined as for R¹⁰; B is selected from: H, halide, trifluoromethylsulfonyl, alkylsulfonate, trifluoromethylsulfonate, aryl-sulfonate, carboxylate or acetoxy group; M is a metal atom/ion selected from: ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, iridium and iron (typically ruthenium or rhodium); XX-ZZ are each independently selected from: H, halide, hydroxyl, amino or any other atom or group of atoms which can form a stable complex; at least one of X, Y and Z is present and each is independently, or in combination with each other, selected from one or more of the groups: CH₂, O, S, NH, CHR¹¹CR¹¹R¹² (where R¹¹-R¹² are defined as for R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶) adjacent groups may form unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds for example by being alkenyl (—CH═CH—) or as part of a cyclic structure, such as an aryl group or combinations thereof and the total linear length of the chain defined by ‘X-Y-Z’ is two to four atoms, typically 3 atoms; or a salt thereof. This process provides a simple and efficient synthesis for tethered metal catalysts which allows for a broad range of substituents to be incorporated onto the η-6 arene ring. Enantiomers of formulae I, IIa, IIb and/or III are also included in the scope of the invention.

The term ‘alkyl’ is intended to encompass substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, linear and cyclic saturated carbon chains as well as branched saturated carbon chains. Typically, the alkyl groups used in the invention are between C₁ to C₁₀, more typically between C₁ to C₈ and even more typically C₁ to C₅. The terms ‘alkenyl’ and ‘alkynyl’ are intended to mean an alkyl group as defined above having at least one carbon-carbon double bond (C═C) or at least one carbon-carbon triple bond (C≡C) respectively. The term ‘aryl’ is intended to refer to an aromatic ring structure. This may include one or more fused rings and the ring or rings may each independently be 5-, 6-, 7-, 8- or 9-membered rings. Further, said ring structures may also comprise one or more heteroatoms. Typically, one or two heteroatoms are included in the ring and the heteroatoms are typically selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur. Most typically, the heteroatom is nitrogen or oxygen. Typically, the aryl groups will be a single aromatic ring and even more typically, the ring may be a 5-, or 6-membered ring.

Groups R¹-R⁵ and R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶ may form substituents in combination with one another. One or more of R¹ and R², R² and R³, R³ and R⁴, R⁴ and R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷, R⁶ and R⁸, R⁶ and R⁹, R⁸ and R⁷, R⁸ and R⁹, R⁷ and R⁹, R¹⁰¹ and R¹⁰², R¹⁰² and R¹⁰³, R¹⁰³ and R¹⁰⁴, R¹⁰⁴ and R¹⁰⁵, R¹⁰⁵ and R¹⁰⁶, R¹⁰¹ and R¹⁰⁶ may be linked to form a cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl or aryl group. For example, neighbouring groups may together define an aromatic ring thereby creating a ligand comprising a fused ring structure.

The groups ‘XX-ZZ’ described in general formulae (IIa) and (IIb) are not particularly limited as they are believed to not play a significant role in the reaction according to the claimed invention. Accordingly, XX-ZZ is any group capable of forming a stable complex, or in other words, that is capable of co-ordinating to the metal centre without destabilising the η-6 arene complex, XX-ZZ are typically monodentate ligands. It is typically the case that XX-ZZ is a halide and even more typically chloride. However, XX-ZZ may also often be OH, NH₃ or C≡O or a trifluoromethylsulfonyl group, an alkylsulfonate, trifluoromethylsulfonate or aryl-sulfonate group, any carboxylate group including an acetoxy group or a hydrogen atom. XX-ZZ could also be a neutral molecule such as triphenylphosphine or a solvent molecule for example acetonitrile, dichloromethane, dimethylsufoxide, methanol, ethanol or another commonly used solvent.

The term ‘halide’ is intended to cover fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide. The term ‘amino’ is intended to encompass primary, secondary and tertiary amino groups.

Typically, the reaction is performed in an organic solvent. The solvent may comprise a halogenated solvent such as a halogenated organic solvent, and it is often the case that the solvent will comprise chlorobenzene, dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, xylene or a combination thereof. Typically, the solvent will comprise at least 90% chlorobenzene, dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, xylene or a combination thereof by mass of the total solvent. Typically the solvent is chlorobenzene, dichloromethane or a combination thereof and even more typically the solvent is chlorobenzene. The inventors have surprisingly found that this solvent system is particularly effective as a solvent for the reaction.

The typical duration of the reaction necessary to produce the product depends on the choice of solvent used. However, the duration is usually within the range of 2 to 50 hours. In particular, where the solvent is dichloromethane it is typically the case that the reaction time will be in the range of 40 to 50 hours and where the solvent is chlorobenzene it is typically the case that the reaction time is between 2 to 5 hours. It will be appreciated by the skilled person that the duration of the reaction will vary depending on the exact ratio of solvents, where a combination of solvents are used, and the temperature at which the reaction is carried.

The temperature at which the reaction is performed is typically in the range of 25° C. to 140° C., even more typically is 50° C. to 140° C. and may also be in the range of 75° C. to 120° C. It is often the case that the reaction will be conducted in the range of 75° C. to 90° C. The inventors have unexpectedly found that the reaction of the present invention proceeds most efficiently when performed within these temperature windows and minimises the quantity of impurities generated.

The reaction may be carried out with a mild inorganic base. A mild inorganic base such as calcium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate or potassium carbonate may be added to the reaction. However strong bases, such as triethylamine or sodium hydroxide are typically not used as these tend to provide lower yields of the catalyst.

The metal centre of the complex in the catalysts of the invention is typically ruthenium. Whilst other metals can be used with the invention, ruthenium has been found to produce the most effectively catalysts. The catalysts of the invention are typically used in the asymmetric hydrogenation. In particular, the catalysts may be used in the asymmetric hydrogenation of C═O and C═N bonds. Typically, the catalysts are used in the asymmetric reduction of ketones.

The complexes may contain multiple chiral centres, or a single chiral centre, and may be prepared in either enantiomerically-enriched or racemic form.

It is usually the case that the total linear length of the chain defined by ‘X-Y-Z’ is three atoms. Groups X, Y and Z each independently comprise, or in combination with each other, one or more of the groups selected from: CH₂, CHR¹¹ and CR¹¹R¹² or one or more adjacent groups may form an alkenyl moiety (—CH═CH—). Typically, X, Y and Z are each CH₂. R¹¹ and R¹² may form substituents in combination with one another. For example, neighbouring groups may together define an aromatic ring thereby creating a tethering portion wherein carbons in the chain form the edge of an aromatic ring. The inventors have found that ligands having a tether portion (X-Y-Z) with a length of two, three and four atoms, demonstrate optimum catalytic activity.

The combined electron withdrawing effect generated by R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶ may be greater than that generated by R¹-R⁵. Usually, at least one of R¹-R⁵ is an alkoxy group, and typically at least one of R¹-R⁵ is a methoxy group. Even more typically one, two or three of R¹-R⁵ are a methoxy group. The reaction of the present invention has been found to proceed more efficiently where the electron density around the ring of the compound according to general formulae (IIa) and (IIb) is less than that on the ring of the compound according to general formulae (III). Without wishing to be bound by theory, it seems that a reduction in the electron density of the ring shown in general formulae (IIa) and (IIb) relative to the ring shown in general formulae (III) promotes the ‘ring swapping’ reaction.

It is often the case that at least one of R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶ is an electron withdrawing group and at least one of R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶ may be an ester group. Usually, at least one of R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶ is CO₂Et. Ester groups can be incorporated on the phenyl ring easily and provide a good electron withdrawing effect, decreasing electron density of the ring.

Typically, R⁶=R⁷=Ph or C₄ alkyl or R⁸=R⁹=Ph or C₄ alkyl. Typically, the C₄ alkyl is a tertiary butyl group. In order for the catalysts to provide optimal stereo-selective reduction, it is useful to functionalise the pendant, diamine portion of the ligand with bulky groups on either side of the nitrogen groups. This directs the incoming the substrate and reagents towards a particular orientation, favouring a specific enantiomer.

The groups XX-ZZ are typically monodentate ligands and are often halides and even more typically are chloride. XX-ZZ may also often be —OH, NH₃ or C≡O or a trifluoromethylsulfonyl group, an alkylsulfonate, trifluoromethylsulfonate or aryl-sulfonate group, any carboxylate group including an acetoxy group or a hydrogen atom. As mentioned above, there is no particular limitation on the choice of ligand which XX-ZZ can be however, chloride is readily available and reasonable small and therefore does not interfere with the reactive portions of the catalyst and forms a stable complex with the metal centre.

A is typically selected from SO₂Ar, SO₂R (wherein Ar is aryl and R is alkyl as defined above) and even more typically A is SO₂pTol.

Often, the group B may be a monodentate ligand and may be a halide and is typically is chloride. The group B is usually one of XX-ZZ which has not been displaced by co-ordination of the ligand. As such, B is also typically chloride as this is readily available and reasonable small and therefore does not interfere with the reactive portions of the catalyst and forms a stable complex with the metal centre.

Further, it may be the case that the reaction is performed with exposure to a microwave source. Typically, the microwaves to which the reaction is exposed are in the range of 20 W to 200 W and more typically are in the range of 40 W to 100 W. There is no particular limit on the power of the microwave source but this is usually restricted so that it does not causes excessive evaporation of the reaction solvent or lead to an excessive rise in temperature. The duration of time for which the reaction is irradiated is usually in the range of 10 seconds to 30 minutes and more often will be in the range of 1 minute to 10 minutes. Further, the power of the microwave radiation can be increased or decreased, either gradually or incrementally, as required throughout the reaction. The power need not be constant throughout a single period of irradiation.

The reaction may be carried out alternating the conditions between exposure and non-exposure to microwaves. As such, a single reaction may experience several periods of microwave radiation and relaxation.

There is also provided in a second aspect of the invention, a compound according to general formula (IV)

wherein, R²¹-R²⁵ each independently, or in combination with another of said substituents (R²¹-R²⁵) form, an electron rich or electron donating group and are selected from: H, alkylaryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyloxy, hydroxy, amino, acyl amino, thiol, alkylthiol; and wherein, R²⁶-R²⁹ are defined as for R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶; B is selected from: H, halide, trifluoromethylsulfonyl, alkylsulfonate, trifluoromethylsulfonate, aryl-sulfonate, acetoxy group; and

-   A, B, M, XX-ZZ, X, Y, Z are defined as above.

It has been found by the inventors that the compounds having these substituents can be manufactured by the process according to the claimed invention but are not believed to be possible to synthesise by methods disclosed in the prior art. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that electron rich substituents such as R²¹-R²⁵ destabilise the cyclodienyl intermediate used in the processes of the prior art. As such, these compounds are not accessible via conventional methods and provide unique catalytic properties.

Typically, X, Y and Z each independently comprise one or more of the groups selected from: CH₂, CHR³¹ and CR³¹R³². Even more typically, X, Y and Z are each CH₂. The inventors have found that a ‘tethering portion’ having a length the structure (CH₂)₃ provides optimal catalytic activity.

Groups R²¹-R²⁵ and R²⁶-R²⁹ may form substituents in combination with one another. One or more of R²¹ and R²², R²² and R²³, R²³ and R²⁴, R²⁴ and R²⁵, R²⁶ and R²⁷, R²⁶ and R²⁸, R²⁶ and R²⁹, R²⁸ and R²⁷, R²⁸ and R²⁹, R²⁷ and R²⁹ may be linked to form a cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl or aryl group. For example, neighbouring groups may together define an aromatic ring thereby creating a ligand comprising a fused ring structure.

It is usually the case that at least one of R²¹-R²⁵ is an alkoxy group and typically, at least one of R²¹-R²⁵ is a methoxy group and even more typically one, two or three of R²¹-R²⁵ is a methoxy group. The oxygen atom in the alkoxy or methoxy substituent is capable of donating electrons into the ring and the methoxy group is typically used as it is small and therefore provides minimal hindrance to other substituents around the ring.

Usually, R²⁶=R²⁷=Ph or alkyl and it may be the case that R²⁸=R²⁹=Ph or alkyl. Further, XX-ZZ may be halides and are typically chloride. B is also typically a halide and may be chloride.

It is typically the case that substituents R²² and R²⁴ are hydrogen and substituents R²¹, R²³ and R²⁵ are not hydrogen. Substitution onto the arene ring at the R²² and R²⁴ positions is synthetically more difficult due to directing effects during preparation of the ligand.

Typically R²¹-R²⁵ and XYZ are not in the following combinations:

-   (i) XYZ do not together make a 3 carbon linear chain in combination     with R²¹-R²⁵ forming a para-methyl substitution. -   (ii) XYZ do not together make a 3 carbon linear chain in combination     with R²¹-R²⁵ forming a 3,5 dimethyl substitution or -   (iii) XYZ do not together make a 4 carbon linker in combination with     R²¹-R²⁵ forming a 4-Me substitution; wherein the remaining R²¹-R²⁵     are H.

The invention is typically selected from:

or a salt thereof and/or a combination thereof.

There is also provided in a third aspect of the invention, a method of carrying out a hydrogenation reaction comprising the use of a compound according to second aspect of the invention to catalyse the hydrogenation of a substrate. Typically, the hydrogenation is an asymmetric hydrogenation. Typically the substrate will be a compound containing one or more C═O bonds and/or one or more C═N bonds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Table 1a—shows results for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones using (R,R) ‘4-methoxy’ SRC 834(1) and (R,R) ‘3,5-dimethoxy’ SRC 835(1) catalysts in FA:TEA (2M solution of ketone) at 60° C. using S/C ratio 1000/1.

Table 1b—shows the results of asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone and acetylcyclohexane using five novel catalysts (2M) in FA:TEA at 28° C. using complexes at S/C ratio 100/1.

Tables 2a to 2e—shows reductions using hydrogen gas and methanol for different substrates.

Table 3a—shows comparative results for hydrogenation for tethered (R,R) catalysts for a range of substrates.

Table 3b—shows comparative results for hydrogenation for p-OMe and di-OMe 3C tethered (R,R) catalysts.

Table 4—shows asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones (2M) in FA:TEA at 28° C. using a range of tethered complexes at a substrate/catalyst (S/C) ratio 100/1.

Table 5—shows ATH of acetophenone using (R,R) 4-methoxy, (R,R) 3,5-dimethoxy, (R,R)/(S,S) 3C-teth and catalysts TEG 4-OMe in HCOONa/H₂O/MeOH at 60° C./40° C. using S/C ratio 100/1, 500/1.

Table 6—shows ATH of ketones using (R,R) 4-methoxy (R,R) 3,5-dimethoxy (R,R)/(S,S) 3C-teth and catalysts TEG 4-OMe in HCOONa/H₂O/MeOH at 60° C. using S/C ratio 100/1. Catalysts are as defined in Table 2. Noyori's catalyst is [Ru(p-cymene)(TsDPEN)Cl].

Table 7—shows ATH of amino acetophenone using (R,R) 4-methoxy, (R,R) 3,5-dimethoxy, (R,R)/(S,S) 3C-teth catalysts. Catalysts are as defined in Table 2. Noyori's catalyst is [Ru(p-cymene)(TsDPEN)Cl].

Table 8—shows ATH and APH of acetophenone using polymer supported tethered catalysts.

Table 9—shows ATH of acetophenone using polymer supported ruthenium complexes.

Table 3b—shows comparative results for hydrogenation for p-OMe and di-OMe 3C tethered (R,R) catalysts.

FIG. 1—shows an ESI-MS which illustrates the conversion of ligand to tethered complex, without formation of the unwanted bidentate complex described on page 35.

FIG. 2—shows an ESI-MS of an example of 4-methoxy compound after 51.5 h—heating in DCM, 90° C. described on page 35.

FIG. 3—shows an ESI-MS of an example of 2,4-Dimethoxy ESI-MS after 48 h heating in DCM, 90° C. described on page 36.

FIG. 4—shows an ESI-MS of a 1st run of the reaction on page 62 under the following conditions: Power=40 W, Temp=90° C., RAMP=1 min, Hold=10 min.

FIG. 5—shows an ESI-MS of a 2nd run of the reaction on page 63 under the following conditions: Power=40 W, Temp=90° C., RAMP=1 min, Hold=10 min.

FIG. 6—shows an ESI-MS of a 1st run of the reaction on page 63 under the following conditions: Power=40 W, Temp=90° C., RAMP=1 min, Hold=10 min.

FIG. 7—shows an ESI-MS of a 1st run of the reaction on page 63 under the following conditions: Power=40 W, Temp=50° C., RAMP=2 min, Hold=10 min, Pressure=60 psi.

FIG. 8—shows an ESI-MS of a 3rd run of the reaction on page 63 under the following conditions: Power=80 W, Temp=75° C., RAMP=2 min, Hold=10 min, Pressure=100 psi

FIG. 9—shows an ESI-MS of a 1st run of the reaction on page 64 under the following conditions: 80 W, Temp=80° C., RAMP=2 min, Hold=10 min, Pressure=60 psi.

FIG. 10—shows an ESI-MS of a 2nd run of the reaction on page 64 under the following conditions: Power=80 W, Temp=100° C., RAMP=2 min, Hold=10 min, Pressure=60 psi.

FIG. 11—shows the a ESI-MS of the compound of page 64 formed by MS under 130° C. in MW for 10 min.

FIG. 12—shows the a ESI-MS of the compound of page 64 formed by MS under 130° C. in MW for 10 min.

FIG. 13—shows the a ESI-MS of the compound of page 65 formed by MS under 130° C. in MW for 10 min.

FIG. 14—shows an ESI-MS of the compound complied with aromatised starting described as SRC 936, 26 Jul. 2012 on page 69.

FIG. 15—shows an ESI-MS of the compound complied with aromatised starting described as SRC 1209, 11 Jun. 2013 on page 69.

FIG. 16—shows an ESI-MS of the compound complied with aromatised starting described as SRC 1219a, 19 Jun. 2013 on page 69.

FIG. 17—shows an ESI-MS of the compound complied with aromatised starting described as SRC 1219b, 19 Jun. 2013 on page 70.

FIG. 18—shows an ESI-MS of the compound complied with aromatised starting described as 1268, 29 Aug. 2013 on page 70.

FIG. 19—shows an ESI-MS of the compound complied with aromatised starting described as 1271, 2 Sep. 2013 on page 70.

FIG. 20—shows an ESI-MS of the compound complied with aromatised starting described as 1305(3), 3 Oct. 2013 on page 70.

FIG. 21—shows an ESI-MS of the compound complied with aromatised starting described as 1321(2), 29 Oct. 2013 on page 70.

EXAMPLES

Synthesis of η-6 Arene Ruthenium Precursor

Compounds according to general formula (IIa) and (IIb) are well known in the art and were synthesised using known synthetic routes (see references [11]-[11c]). The reaction scheme is represented below:

Synthesis of Catalyst

Example 1

Procedure for the Preparation of 10 from 7.

To a mixture of 3-phenyl-1-propanol (0.149 mL, 1.093 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 2,6-lutidine (0.167 mL, 1.434 mmol, 2.10 eq) in dry DCM (5 mL) was added a solution of triflic anhydride (0.195 mL, 1.161 mmol, 1.70 eq) into dry DCM (1.5 mL) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 60 min. The mixture was again cooled down to 0° C. To this, solution of (1R,2R) TsDPEN (0.250 g, 0.683 mmol, 1.0 eq) and triethylamine (TEA) (0.228 mL, 1.639 mmol, 2.4 eq) in dry DCM (1.5 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C. The resulting yellow coloured mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 17 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (20 mL) and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution (3×10 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×10 mL), brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give a crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (25:75) as an eluent to give a residue. The residue was triturated in n-pentane (to remove traces of 2,6-lutidine) to give a solid. The solid was filtered, washed with n-pentane and dried under vacuum to give pure compound 10 as white solid (0.280 g, 0.579 mmol, 84.7%).

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.36 (2H, d, J 8.4, —CH of phenyl), 7.28-7.23 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.19-7.09 (5H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.07-7.00 (6H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.95-6.87 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.25 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.25 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNHTs), 3.59 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.61-2.49 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 2.47-2.39 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.34-2.25(1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.32 (3H, s, —CH₃), 1.80-1.62 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.29 (1H, br s, —NH(CH₂)₃—).

m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 485.1; HRMS found 485.2259 (C₃₀H₃₂N₂O₂S H+ requires 485.2257, error=0.1 ppm).

Procedure for the Preparation of 12 from 10.

Compound 10 (C₃₀H₃₂N₂O₂S, 0.050 g, 0.103 mmol, 1.0 eq) was added to [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ 11 (0.033 g, 0.052 mmol, 0.5 eq) in dry DCM (1.5 mL) in a glass tube under N₂. The tube was sealed and the mixture was stirred at room temp for 30 min to give a brick red solution and then heated at 90° C. for 49 h. The reaction was followed by TLC and mass spectra analysis. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give a dark brown residue. The residue was precipitated from diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give a dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 88:12) to give 12 as a brown solid (0.034 g, 0.055 mmol, 53%).

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.24 (2H, d, J 7.2, —CH of phenyl), 7.11-7.04 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.86-6.69 (6H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.61-6.59 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.23-6.16 (3H, m, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.22 (1H, s, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.03 (1H, m, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.43(1H, br d, —NH(CH₂)₃—), 4.03 (1H, d, J 10.8, —CHNTs), 3.65-3.62 (1H, m, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.87-2.75 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.70-2.46 (2H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CHH—), 2.34-2.26 (1H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CHH—), 2.25 (3H, s, —CH₃), 2.19-2.10 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—).

m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 585.1

Example 2

Procedure for the Preparation of 13 from 2-phenylethanol.

To a mixture of 2-phenyl-1-ethanol (0.131 mL, 1.093 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 2,6-lutidine (0.167 mL, 1.434 mmol, 2.10 eq) in dry DCM (5 mL) was added a solution of triflic anhydride (0.195 mL, 1.161 mmol, 1.70 eq) in dry DCM (1.5 mL) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 60 min. The mixture was again cooled down to 0° C. To this, solution of (1R,2R) TsDPEN 9 (0.250 g, 0.683 mmol, 1.0 eq) and TEA (0.228 mL, 1.639 mmol, 2.4 eq) in dry DCM (1.5 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C. The resulting yellow coloured mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 17 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (20 mL) and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution (3×10 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×10 mL), brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (25:75) as an eluent to give a residue. The residue was triturated in n-pentane (to remove traces of 2,6-lutidine) to give a solid. The solid was filtered, washed with n-pentane and dried under vacuum to give pure compound 13 as white solid (0.275 g, 0.585 mmol, 85.7%).

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.34 (2H, d, J 8.4, o-CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 7.28-7.16 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.12-6.97 (10H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.90-6.86 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.80-6.77 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.24 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.16 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNHTs), 3.60 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNH(CH₂)₂—), 2.78-2.50 (4H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂—), 2.33 (3H, s, —CH₃), 1.32 (1H, br s, —NH(CH₂)₃—).

m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 471.6; HRMS found 471.2101 (C₂₉H₃₀N₂O₂S H+ requires 471.2101, error=0.4 ppm).

Procedure for the Preparation of 14 from 13.

Compound 13 (C₂₉H₃₀N₂O₂S, 0.050 g, 0.103 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ 11 (0.033 g, 0.052 mmol, 0.5 eq) into dry DCM (1.5 mL) in a glass tube under N₂. The tube was sealed and mixture was stirred at room temp for 30 min to give brick red solution and heated at 90° C. for 49 h. The reaction was followed by TLC and mass spectra analysis. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give dark brown residue. The residue was scratched in diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 88:12) to give 14 as a brown solid (0.034 g, 0.055 mmol, 53%). Characterised by ESI-MS very low conv. The product was difficult to fully purify due to the formation of a number of impurities.

m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 571.0

Example 3 Preparation of ‘4-methoxy’ or ‘p-OMe’ Catalyst

Procedure for the Preparation of 15 from 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanol.

To a mixture of 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanol (0.362 g, 2.186 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 2,6-lutidine (0.334 mL, 2.869 mmol, 2.10 eq) in dry DCM (10 mL) was added a solution of triflic anhydride (0.390 mL, 2.322 mmol, 1.70 eq) in dry DCM (2.5 mL) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 60 min. The mixture was again cooled down to 0° C. To this, a solution of (1R,2R)TsDPEN (0.500 g, 1.366 mmol, 1.0 eq) and TEA (0.456 mL, 3.278 mmol, 2.4 eq) in dry DCM (2.5 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C. The resulting yellow coloured mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 17 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (20 mL) and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution (3×25 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×15 mL), brine (25 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (25:75) as an eluent to give a residue. The residue was triturated in n-pentane (to remove traces of 2,6-lutidine) to give a solid. The solid was filtered, washed with n-pentane and dried under vacuum to give pure compound 15 as white solid (0.625 g, 1.216 mmol, 89%).

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.36 (2H, d, J 8.1, —CH of phenyl), 7.14-7.11 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.07-6.98 (7H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.94-6.87 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.80 (2H, d, J 8.7, —CH of phenyl), 6.27 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.24 (1H, d, J 8.0, —CHNHTs), 3.78 (3H, S, —OCH₃), 3.58 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.55-2.37 (3H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.32 (3H, s, —CH₃), 2.29-2.23 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 1.74-1.60 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.32 (1H, br s, —NH(CH₂)₃—).

m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 515.1; HRMS found 515.2377 (C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₃S H+ requires 515.2363, error=−2.7 ppm).

Procedure for the Preparation of 16 from 15.

Compound 15 (C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₃S, 0.200 g, 0.389 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ 11 (0.125 g, 0.195 mmol, 0.5 eq) dissolved in dry DCM (5 mL) in a glass tube under N₂. The tube was sealed and mixture was stirred at room temp for 30 min to a give brick red solution and heated at 90° C. for 54 h. The reaction was followed by TLC and mass spectra analysis. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give a dark brown residue. The residue was precipitated from diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give a dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 90:10) to give brown solid. The solid was recrystallized from MeOH to give 16 as a golden orange solid (0.108 g, 0.166 mmol, 42.7%).

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.27 (2H, d, J 8.1, —CH of phenyl), 7.18-7.07 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.84-6.77 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.73 (2H, d, J 8.1, m-CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 6.63-6.58 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.54 (2H, d, J 7.2, —CH of phenyl), 5.55 (1H, dd, J 6.0, 1.2, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.47 (1H, d, J 6.0, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.34 (1H, dd, J 6.0, 1.2, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.27 (1H, dd, J 6.0, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.32 (1H, d, J 11.1, —CHNTs), 4.05 (1H, br d, —NH(CH₂)₃—), 3.98 (3H, s, —OCH₃), 3.61-3.53 (1H, m, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.81-2.73 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.53-2.25 (3H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.20 (3H, s, —CH₃), 2.12-1.98 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—).

m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 615.1; HRMS found 615.1258 (C₃₁H₃₃N₂O₃RuS—Cl+ requires 615.1257, error=−0.2 ppm).

Alternative Procedures for the Preparation of 16 from 15

Reaction of 15 with 11 in DCM at room temperature for 30 minutes followed by reaction in chlorobenzene (13 mL per 100 mg 15) at 140° C. for 2 h, provided complex 15 (0.105 g 0.164 mmol, 41.5%).

Example 4

Procedure for the Preparation of 17 from biphenyl-2-carboxaldehyde and 9.

To a mixture of (1R,2R)-TsDPEN 9 (0.200 g, 0.546 mmol, 1.0 eq) and MS 4A (0.4 g) in dry methanol (10 mL) was added biphenyl-2-carboxaldehyde (0.101 mL, 0.628 mmol, 1.15 eq) followed by acetic acid (2-3 drops). The mixture was stirred at room temperature under an inert atmosphere for 4.5 h to form the imine To this, NaBH₃CN (0.142 g, 2.266 mmol, 4.15 eq) was added and resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 h. The reaction mixture was filtered and concentrated to give a residue. This was dissolved in DCM (20 mL) and washed with 1M NaOH (2×15 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated on a rotavapor to give the crude product. The crude compound was purified by flash column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (7:3) to give compound 17 as white solid (0.195 g, 0.367 mmol, 67%).

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.33-7.27 (7H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.21-7.17 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.12-7.09 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.05-7.01 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.96 (2H, d, J 8.4, —CH of phenyl), 6.88-6.86 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.75-6.73 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.28 (1H, br d, J 3.4, —NHTs), 4.17 (1H, dd, J 6.6, 3.4, —CHNHTs), 3.52 (1H, d, J 12.6, —CHNHCHH—), 3.51 (1H, d, J 6.6, —CHNHCH₂—), 3.29 (1H, d, J 12.6, —CHNHCHH—), 2.31 (3H, s, —CH₃), 1.39 (1H, br s, —NH—CH₂—).

m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 533.2; HRMS found 533.2262 (C₃₄H₃₂N₂O₂S H+ requires 533.2257, error=−0.3 ppm).

Procedure for the Preparation of 18 from 17.

Compound 17 (C₃₄H₃₂N₂O₂S, 0.050 g, 0.094 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ 11 (0.030 g, 0.047 mmol, 0.5 eq) in dry DCM (1.5 mL) was placed in a glass tube under N₂. The tube was sealed and mixture was stirred at room temp for 30 min to give a brick red solution and heated at 90° C. for 49 h. The reaction was followed by TLC and mass spectra analysis. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give dark brown residue. The residue was precipitated from diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 85:15) to give 18 as a brown solid (0.030 g, 0.045 mmol, 47.8%).

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.61-7.53 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.42-7.37 (1H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.21 (2H, d, J 8.1, m-CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 7.16-7.10 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.91 (1H, d, J 7.5, —CH of phenyl), 6.79 (2H, d, J 8.1, o-CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 6.75-6.70 (3H, m, 2-CH of phenyl, —CH of Ru—Ar), 6.62-6.57 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.44 (2H, d, J 7.2, —CH of phenyl), 6.11-6.02 (2H, m, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.78 (1H, d, J 5.1, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.20 (1H, d, J 5.7, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.95 (1H, d, J 12.0, —CHNH—CH₂—), 4.74 (1H, J 13.5, —NH—CHH—), 4.10 (1H, d, J 11.3, —CHNTs), 3.85 (1H, d, J 13.5, —NH—CHH—), 3.33-3.25 (1H, dd, J 12.0, 11.3, —CHNH—CH₂—), 2.21 (3H, s, —CH₃).

m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 633.1; HRMS found 633.1159 (C₃₄H₃₁N₂O₂RuS—Cl+ requires 615.1257, error=−1.4 ppm).

Example 5 Preparation of ‘3,5-dimethoxy’ or ‘di-OMe’ Catalyst

Procedure for the Preparation of 19 from 3-(3,5-(dimethoxy)phenyl)propanol.

To a mixture of 3-(3,5-(dimethoxy)phenyl)propanol (C₁₁H₁₆O₃, 0.428 g, 2.186 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 2,6-lutidine (0.334 mL, 2.869 mmol, 2.10 eq) in dry DCM (10 mL) was added a solution of triflic anhydride (0.390 mL, 2.322 mmol, 1.70 eq) in dry DCM (2 5 mL) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 60 min. The mixture was again cooled down to 0° C. To this, a solution of (1R,2R)TsDPEN (0.500 g, 1.366 mmol, 1.0 eq) and TEA (0.456 mL, 3.278 mmol, 2.4 eq) in dry DCM (2.5 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C. The resulting yellow coloured mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 17 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (20 mL) and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution (3×25 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×15 mL), brine (25 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography on silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (25:75) as an eluent to give residue. The residue was triturated in n-pentane (to remove traces of 2,6-lutidine) to give solid. The solid was filtered, washed with n-pentane and dried under vacuum to give pure compound 19 as an oil (0.610 g, 1.121 mmol, 82%).

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.36 (2H, d, J 8.4, o-CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 7.14-7.09 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.06-7.00 (5H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.93-6.88 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.29 (1H, t, J 2.2, —CH of —C₆H₃(OCH₃)₂), 6.27 (2H, d, J 2.2, —CH of —C₆H₃(OCH₃)₂), 6.25 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.24 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNHTs), 3.78 (6H, S, (—OCH₃)₂), 3.59 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.55-2.40 (3H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.34-2.28 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.32 (3H, s, —CH₃), 1.76-1.62 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.35 (1H, br s, —NH(CH₂)₃—).

m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 545.2; HRMS found 545.2475 (C₃₂H₃₆N₂O₄S H+ requires 545.2469, error=−1.1 ppm).

Procedure for the Preparation of 20 from 19.

Compound 19 (C₃₂H₃₆N₂O₄S, 0.125 g, 0.230 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ (0.074 g, 0.115 mmol, 0.5 eq) were dissolved in dry DCM (4.5 mL) in a glass tube under N₂. The tube was sealed and mixture was stirred at room temp for 30 min to give brick red solution and heated at 90° C. for 49 h. The reaction was followed by TLC and mass spectra analysis. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give a dark brown residue. The residue was precipitated from diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give a dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 88:12) to give brown solid. The solid was recrystallized from MeOH to give 20 as a golden orange solid (0.075 g, 0.110 mmol, 48%).

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.45 (2H, d, J 8.4, o-CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 7.12-7.07 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.86-6.84 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.77-6.73 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.64 (2H, d, J 7.2, —CH of phenyl), 5.89 (1H, s, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.78 (1H, s, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.76 (1H, s, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.39 (1H, d, J 12.6, —NH(CH₂)₃—), 4.17 (3H, s, OCH₃), 4.15 (3H, s, OCH₃), 4.07 (1H, d, J 10.3, —CHNTs), 3.59 (1H, m, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.70-2.65 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 2.62-2.58 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.24 (3H, s, —CH₃), 2.20-2.15 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.11-2.03 (1H, m, —NH—CH₂CHHCH₂—), 1.90-1.85 (1H, m, —NH—CH₂CHHCH₂—).

m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 645.1; HRMS found 645.1365 (C₃₂H₃₅N₂O₄RuS—Cl+ requires 645.1363, error=−0.2 ppm).

Example 6

Procedure for the Preparation of 21 from 3-(4-phenylphenyl)propanol.

To a mixture of 3-(4-phenylphenyl)propanol (C₁₅H₁₆O, 0.232 g, 1.093 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 2,6-lutidine (0.167 mL, 1.434 mmol, 2.10 eq) in dry DCM (5 mL) was added a solution of triflic anhydride (0.195 mL, 1.161 mmol, 1.70 eq) in dry DCM (1.5 mL) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 60 min. The mixture was again cooled down to 0° C. To this, solution of (1R,2R)TsDPEN (0.250 g, 0.683 mmol, 1.0 eq) and TEA (0.228 mL, 1.639 mmol, 2.4 eq) in dry DCM (1.5 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C. The resulting yellow coloured mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 17 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (20 mL) and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution (3×10 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×10 mL), brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (25:75) as an eluent to give a residue. The residue was triturated in n-pentane (to remove traces of 2,6-lutidine) to give a solid. The solid was filtered, washed with n-pentane and dried under vacuum to give pure compound 21 as a white solid (0.318 g, 0.568 mmol, 83%).

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.59-7.56 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.36 (2H, d, J 8.1, o-CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 7.45-7.30 (5H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.17-7.11 (5H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.07-6.99 (5H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.96-6.89 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.27 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.26 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNHTs), 3.61 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.66-2.52 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 2.50-2.42 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.36-2.28 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.32 (3H, s, —CH₃), 1.81-1.66 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.37 (1H, br s, —NH(CH₂)₃—).

m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 561.2; HRMS found 561.2571 (C₃₆H₃₆N₂O₂S H+ requires 561.2570, error=0.3 ppm).

Procedure for the Preparation of 22 from 21.

Compound 21 (C₃₆H₃₆N₂O₂S, 0.200 g, 0.357 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ 11 (0.115 g, 0.179 mmol, 0.5 eq) were added to dry DCM (6.0 mL) in a glass tube under N₂. The tube was sealed and the mixture was stirred at room temp for 30 min to give brick red solution and heated at 90° C. for 49 h. The reaction was followed by TLC and mass spectra analysis. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give a dark brown residue. The residue was precipitated from diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give a dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 88:12) to give 22 as a brown solid (0.079 g, 0.114 mmol, 31.8%) as a mixture of isomers with ratio 0.75:0.25 (A:B by ¹H-NMR in CDCl₃).

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.98 (1.5H, d, J 7.6, A —CH of phenyl), 7.81 (0.5H, d, J 6.4, B —CH of phenyl), 7.49-7.38 (4H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl, A —CH of Ru—Ar), 7.23 (0.25H, d, J 7.8, A —CH of phenyl), 7.18-7.04 (5H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl, A —CH of Ru—Ar), 6.89-6.72 (2H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl, B —CH of Ru—Ar), 6.80-6.72 (4H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl), 6.67-6.62 (2H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl), 6.57 (0.75H, d, J 7.8, A —CH of phenyl), 6.26 (0.75H, d, J 5.6, A —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.86 (0.25H, d, J 5.2, B —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.62 (0.25H, br s, B —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.41 (0.75H, d, J 5.2, A —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.23 (0.25H, br d, B —CHNTs), 5.15 (0.75H, d, J 5.6, A —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.99 (0.25H, br d, B —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 4.73 (0.75H, d, J 12.0, A —NH(CH₂)₃—), 4.06 (0.75H, d, J 10.8, A —CHNTs), 3.64-3.58 (0.75H, m, A —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.91-2.60 (3H, m, A+B —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.36-2.25 (1H, m, A+B —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.20 (2.25H, s, A —CH₃), 2.12 (0.75H, s, B —CH₃), 2.11-2.04 (2H, m, -A+B NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), (peak not identified for (0.25H) B —NH(CH₂)₃—).

m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 661.1; HRMS found 661.1458 (C₃₆H₃₅N₂O₂RuS—Cl+ requires 661.1466, error=1.5 ppm).

Example 7

Procedure for the Preparation of 23 from 3-(4-isopropylphenyl)propanol.

To a mixture of 3-(4-isopropylphenyl)propanol (C₁₂H₁₈O, 0.195 g, 1.093 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 2,6-lutidine (0.167 mL, 1.434 mmol, 2.10 eq) in dry DCM (5 mL) was added a solution of triflic anhydride (0.195 mL, 1.161 mmol, 1.70 eq) in dry DCM (1.5 mL) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 60 min. The mixture was again cooled down to 0° C. To this, solution of (1R,2R)TsDPEN (0.250 g, 0.683 mmol, 1.0 eq) and TEA (0.228 mL, 1.639 mmol, 2.4 eq) into dry DCM (1.5 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C. The resulting yellow coloured mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 17 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (20 mL) and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution (3×10 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×10 mL), brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give a crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (25:75) as an eluent to give residue. The residue was triturated in n-pentane (to remove traces of 2,6-lutidine) to give a solid. The solid was filtered, washed with n-pentane and dried under vacuum to give pure compound 23 as a white solid (0.340 g, 0.646 mmol, 94.6%).

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.37 (2H, d, J 8.1, o-CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 7.14-7.09 (5H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.07-6.99 (7H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.96-6.87 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.28 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.24 (1H, d, J 7.7, —CHNHTs), 3.59 (1H, d, J 7.7, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.94-2.80 (1H, m, —CH(CH₃)₂), 2.57-2.39 (3H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.34-2.25 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.32 (3H, s, —CH₃), 1.78-1.60 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.23 (6H, d, J 6.9, —CH(CH₃)₂), (peak not identified for —NH(CH₂)₃—).

m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 527.2; HRMS found 527.2735 (C₃₃H₃₈N₂O₂S H+ requires 527.2727, error=−0.6 ppm).

Procedure for the Preparation of 24 from 23.

Compound 23 (C₃₃H₃₈N₂O₂S, 0.200 g, 0.380 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ 11 (0.122 g, 0.190 mmol, 0.5 eq) were dissolved in dry DCM (6.0 mL) in a glass tube under N₂. The tube was sealed and the mixture was stirred at room temp for 30 min to give brick red solution and heated at 90° C. for 49 h. The reaction was followed by TLC and mass spectra analysis. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give a brown residue. The solid was precipitated from diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give a dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 88:12) to give 24 as a brown solid (0.073 g, 0.110 mmol, 28%) as a mixture of isomers with ratio 0.8:0.2 (A:B by ¹H-NMR in CDCl₃).

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.39-7.29 (2H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl), 7.18-7.04 (4H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl), 6.87-6.77 (4H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl), 6.75-6.65 (2H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl), 6.60-6.58 (2H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl), 6.44 (0.2H, d, J 4.8, B —CH of Ru—Ar), 6.36 (0.8H, d, J 5.6, A —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.96 (0.8H, d, J 6.0, A —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.91 (0.2H, d, J 5.6, B —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.46 (0.2H, br d, B —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.36 (0.2H, br d, B —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.18 (1H, d, J 5.6, A —CH of Ru—Ar, B —CHNTs), 4.99 (0.8H, d, J 6.0, A —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.83 (0.2H, d, J 12, B —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 4.53 (0.8H, d, J 12.0, A —NH(CH₂)₃—), 4.10 (0.8H, d, J 10.8, A —CHNTs), 3.73-3.67 (0.8H, m, A —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 3.62-3.52 (0.8H, m, A —CH(CH₃)₂), 3.19-3.10 (0.2H, m, B —CH(CH₃)₂), 2.87-2.59 (3H, m, A+B —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.29-2.13 (2H, m, A+B —NH—CHHCHHCH₂—), 2.24 (2.4H, s, A —CH₃), 2.15 (0.6H, s, B —CH₃), 2.08-2.02 (1H, m, -A+B NH—CH₂CHHCH₂—), 1.58 (2.4H, d, J 6.8, A —CH(CH₃)₂), 1.40 (0.6H, d, J 6.4, B —CH(CH₃)₂), 1.58 (0.6H, d, J 6.8, B —CH(CH₃)₂), 1.25 (2.4H, d, J 6.8, A —CH(CH₃)₂), (peak not identified for (0.2H) B —NH(CH₂)₃—).

m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 627.1; HRMS found 627.1611 (C₃₃H₃₇N₂O₂RuS—Cl+ requires 627.1622, error=1.3 ppm).

Example 8

Procedure for the Preparation of 25 from 3-(4-tertbutylphenyl)propanol.

To a mixture of 3-(4-tertbutylphenyl)propanol (C₁₃H₂₀O, 0.210 g, 1.093 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 2,6-lutidine (0.167 mL, 1.434 mmol, 2.10 eq) in dry DCM (5 mL) was added a solution of triflic anhydride (0.195 mL, 1.161 mmol, 1.70 eq) in dry DCM (1.5 mL) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 60 min. The mixture was again cooled down to 0° C. To this, a solution of (1R,2R)TsDPEN 9 (0.250 g, 0.683 mmol, 1.0 eq) and TEA (0.228 mL, 1.639 mmol, 2.4 eq) in dry DCM (1.5 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C. The resulting yellow coloured mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 17 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (20 mL) and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution (3×10 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×10 mL), brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give a crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (25:75) as an eluent to give a residue. The residue was triturated in n-pentane (to remove traces of 2,6-lutidine) to give solid. The solid was filtered, washed with n-pentane and dried under vacuum to give pure compound 25 as a white solid (0.312 g, 0.578 mmol, 84.6%).

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.37 (2H, d, J 8.4, o-CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 7.29-7.25 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.14-7.11 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.05-7.00 (7H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.96-6.87 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.28 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.24 (1H, d, J 8.0, —CHNHTs), 3.59 (1H, d, J 8.0, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.57-2.39 (3H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.34-2.26 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.32 (3H, s, —CH₃), 1.76-1.63 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.30 (10H, br s, —C(CH₃)₃ and —NH(CH₂)₃—).

m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 541.2; HRMS found 541.2888 (C₃₄H₄₀N₂O₂S H+ requires 541.2883, error=−0.6 ppm).

Procedure for the Preparation of 26 from 25.

Compound 25 (C₃₄H₄₀N₂O₂S, 0.200 g, 0.370 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ 11 (0.119 g, 0.185 mmol, 0.5 eq) into dry DCM (6.0 mL) in a glass tube under N₂. The tube was sealed and mixture was stirred at room temp for 30 min to a give brick red solution and heated at 90° C. for 49 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give a dark brown residue. The residue was precipitated from diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 88:12) to give 26 as a brown solid (0.052 g, 0.078 mmol, 20.8%) as a mixture of isomers with ratio 0.55:0.45 (A:B by ¹H-NMR in CDCl₃).

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.30 (1.1H, d, J 8.0, A —CH of phenyl), 7.22 (0.9H, d, J 8.0, B —CH of phenyl), 7.17-7.11 (2H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl, A+B —CH of Ru—Ar), 7.09-7.02 (3H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl), 6.99-6.98 (1H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl), 6.77-6.75 (2H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl), 6.71-6.33 (3H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl, A+B —CH of Ru—Ar), 6.58-6.54 (2H, m, A+B —CH of phenyl), 5.87-5.84 (1H, m, A+B —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.69 (0.45H, br s, B —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.60 (0.55H, d, J 5.2, A —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.48 (0.45H, br s, B —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.21-5.17 (1H, m, A —CH of Ru—Ar, B —CHNTs), 4.78 (0.45H, br d, B —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 4.68 (0.55H, d, J 10.8, A —CHNTs), 4.30 (0.55H, br d, A NH(CH₂)₃—), 3.87-3.81 (0.55H, m, A —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.85-2.54 (3H, m, A+B —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.37-2.27 (1H, m, A+B —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.16-2.08 (2H, m, A+B —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 2.19 (1.65H, s, A —CH₃), 2.13 (1.35H, s, B —CH₃), 1.60 (4.95H, s, A —C(CH₃)₃), 1.55 (4.05H, s, B —C(CH₃)₃), (peak not identified for (0.45H) B —NH(CH₂)₃—).

m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 641.1; HRMS found 641.1777 (C₃₄H₃₉N₂O₂RuS—Cl+ requires 641.1778, error=0.3 ppm).

Example 9

To a mixture of (1R,2R)-TsDPEN 9 (0.318 g, 0.870 mmol, 1.0 eq) and MS 4A (0.5 g) in dry methanol (10 mL) was added 3-(4-acetylaminophenyl)propanol (C₁₁H₁₃NO₂, 0.191 g, 1.0 mmol, 1.15 eq) followed by acetic acid (2-3 drops). The mixture was stirred at room temperature under an inert atmosphere for 4.5 h to form the imine. To this, NaBH₃CN (0.227 g, 3.611 mmol, 4.15 eq) was added and resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 h. The reaction mixture was filtered and concentrated to give a residue. This was dissolved in DCM (20 mL) and washed with 1M NaOH (2×15 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated on a rotavapor to give the crude product. The crude compound was purified by flash column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (7:3) to give compound 27 as a white solid (0.380 g, 0.702 mmol, 80.8%).

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.39-7.34 (5H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.12-7.10 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.05-7.00 (6H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.92-6.87 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.26 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.22 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNHTs), 3.57 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.56-2.38 (3H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.33-2.22 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.32 (3H, s, —CH₃), 2.13 (3H, s, —COCH₃), 1.71-1.60 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.48 (1H, br s, —NH(CH₂)₃—).

m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 542.2; HRMS found 542.2476 (C₃₂H₃₅N₃O₃S H+ requires 542.2472, error=0.2 ppm).

Procedure for the Preparation of 28 (‘3C p-NAc’) from 27.

Compound 27 (C₃₂H₃₃N₃O₂S, 0.100 g, 0.185 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ 11 (0.060 g, 0.093 mmol, 0.5 eq) were dissolved in dry DCM (4.5 mL) under N₂, and stirred at room temp for 60 min to give a brick red solution. The mixture was concentrated on a rotavpor to give dark orange residue. To this, chlorobenzene (12 mL) was added and mixture heated at 100° C. for 5 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give dark brown residue. The solid was scratched in diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 88:12) to give 28 as a brown solid. (0.033 mg, 0.049 mmol, 26%).

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 9.39 (1H, s, —NHCOCH₃), 7.25 (2H, d, J 8.0, —CH of phenyl), 7.13-7.02 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.89-6.84 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.82-6.75 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.71-6.67 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.62-6.52 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl, —CH of Ru—Ar), 6.25 (1H, d, J 5.6, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.26 (1H, d, J 5.6, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.22 (1H, m, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.44 (1H, br d, —NH(CH₂)₃—), 4.09 (1H, d, J 10.8, —CHNTs), 3.69 (1H, m, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.82-2.55 (3H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.36-2.28 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.24 (3H, s, —CH₃), 2.07 (3H, s, —NHCOCH₃), 2.06-1.98 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—).

m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 642.1; HRMS found 642.1374 (C₃₂H₃₄N₃O₃RuS—Cl+ requires 642.1366, error=−1.5 ppm).

Example 10

Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation (ATH) Reduction with Formic Acid/Triethylamine.

The asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones to alcohols through the process of asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) has been studied. ATH requires the use of an organic molecule as the source of hydrogen in the reduction reaction. Typically this is formic acid, isopropanol or sodium formate. In our investigation we have used the most common reagent; a 5:2 formic acid:triethylamine mixture.

To a mixture of catalyst (0.002 mmol) in FA:TEA (5:2) (1.0 mL) was added ketone/imine (2.0 mmol) and stirred at 60° C. for 1 h-31 h under an inert atmosphere. The reaction was monitored by chiral GC. For chiral GC analysis, the small sample from reaction mixture was filtered through a plug of silica using hexane:EtOAc (1:1). The filtrate was analysed by chiral GC. After completion of reaction, (i) for ketone reduction:reaction mixture was filtered through silica using EtOAc. The filtrate was concentrated to give a crude alcohol. The crude compound was purified by flash column chromatography over silica gel to give pure alcohol; (ii) for imine reduction:reaction mixture was concentrated, diluted with DCM and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution. The organic layer was separated, dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give amine.

Example 11

Asymmetric Hydrogenation (AH) Reduction with Hydrogen Gas.

The asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones to alcohols through the process of pressure hydrogenation (AH) has been studied. AH requires the use of hydrogen gas as the source of hydrogen in the reduction reaction. The results below contrast the results obtained using the new complexes with those reported previously for a series of other catalysts which have been reported previously (A. M. Hayes, D. J. Morris, G. J. Clarkson and M. Wills, Am. Chem Soc, 2005, vol 127, 7318-7319)

To a Pyrex test tube was added the substrate (1 mmol) followed by the catalyst (0.002 mmol). To this was then added MeOH (2 mL). The test tube was then placed into a Parr reactor which was sealed and purged with hydrogen gas. The reactor was then charged to a pressure of 30 bar hydrogen gas, heated to the required temperature (60° C.) and stirred for the required time. Once complete the reactor was allowed to cool to room temperature and the pressure released. The reaction solution was filtered through silica with 1:1 EtOAc:petroleum ether 40-60 solution to remove the catalyst. The filtrate was dried by rotary evaporation to give the product which was analysed by gas chromatography or HPLC.

The p-OMe catalyst 16 is capable of generating high enantiomeric inductions in reductions of a range of prochiral ketones, often giving improved results in terms of conversion and/or enantioselectivity compared to published catalysts.

Alternative Conditions for Complexations via Arene Exchange using Complexes

The reaction can be followed by mass spectrometry. The peak at m/z 485 is the ligand and the product ([M-Cl]+) is at ca. m/z 585. ESI-MS illustrates the conversion of ligand to tethered complex, without formation of the unwanted bidentate complex. An example of an ESI-MS after 46 h—heating in DCM, 90° C. is shown in FIG. 1.

Selected alternative variations: (i) Ligand and [RuCl₂(1,4-(EtO₂C)₂C₆H₄)]₂ in DCM at rt for 30 min and heated at 90° C. for 49 h; formation of required complex. (ii) Ligand and [RuCl₂(1,4-(EtO₂C)(CH₃)C₆H₄)]₂ in DCM at rt for 30 min and heated at 90° C. for 49 h; formation of complex in lower conversion. (iii) Ligand and [Ru(C₆H₅CO₂Et)Cl₂]₂ in DCM at rt for 30 min followed by heating in chlorobenzene at 140° C. for 2 h; formation of required complex. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel can also be used to follow the reactions.

The reaction can be followed by mass spectrometry. An example of 4-methoxy ESI-MS after 51.5 h—heating in DCM, 90° C.; ligand is at m/z 515, complex [M-Cl) is at m/z 615 is shown in FIG. 2.

Selected alternative variations: (i) Ligand and [RuCl₂(1,4-(EtO₂C)₂C₆H₄)]₂ in DCM at rt for 30 min and heated at 90° C. for 49 h; formation of required complex; (ii) Ligand and [RuCl₂(1,4-(EtO₂C)(CH₃)C₆H₄)]₂ in DCM at rt for 30 min and heated at 90° C. for 49 h; formation of required complex in lower conversion; (iii) Ligand and [Ru(C₆H₅CO₂Et)Cl₂]₂ in DCM at rt for 30 min then reaction in chlorobenzene at 140° C. for 2 h; formation of the required complex. Ligand and [Ru(C₆H₅CO₂Et)Cl₂]₂ stirred for 1 hour in DCM which was then replaced with chlorobenzene, and heated for 6 h at 90° C.: 100 mg ligand gave 90 mg product from column (69%), which was recrystallized to give 50 mg solid (38%). At 75° C., reaction appeared complete after 6 hours in chlorobenzene. Also complete after 5 h heating in chlorobenzene at 90° C., or 3 h in chlorobenzene at 100° C. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel can also be used to follow the reactions. The combination of ligand and [Ru(C₆H₅CO₂Et)Cl₂]₂ in DCM at rt formed only a bidentate complex. The following bases —Ca(OH)₂, NaHCO₃, K₂CO₃, Mg(OH)₂ can be added to the reaction however strong NaOH and Et₃N are detrimental, leading to formation of an unwanted bidentate complex. Mass spectrometry traces of reactions with added base were recorded.

The reaction can be followed by mass spectrometry. An example of 2,4-Dimethoxy ESI-MS after 48 h heating in DCM, 90° C.; ligand is at m/z 545, complex is at m/z 645 ([M-Cl]+ is shown in FIG. 3.

Reaction of ligand with [Ru(C₆H₅CO₂Et)Cl₂]₂ in DCM at room temperature for 30 min followed by in chlorobenzene at 140° C. for 2 h, resulted in the formation of required complex in 32% isolated yield.

Additional Complexes which have been Prepared and Tested.

4-Iodo-N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)benzenesulfonamide SRC 1130/1150

To a mixture of alcohol C₁₀H₁₄O₂ (0.278 g, 1.67 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 2,6-lutidine (0.255 mL, 2.197 mmol, 2.10 eq) into dry DCM (10 mL) was added a solution of triflic anhydride (1M in DCM) (1.78 mL, 1.778 mmol, 1.70 eq) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 60 min. The mixture was again cooled to 0° C. To this, a solution of diamine C₂₀H₁₉IN₂O₂S (0.500 g, 1.046 mmol, 1.0 eq) and TEA (0.349 mL, 2.510 mmol, 2.4 eq) in dry DCM (5 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C. The resulting yellow coloured mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 17 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (15 mL) and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution (3×10 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×10 mL), brine (10 mL), dried over anhy. Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give the crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography on silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (30:70) as an eluent to give a product. The product was triturated in n-pentane (to remove traces of 2,6-lutidine). The solvent was evaporated to give the pure compound as white solid (0.439 g, 0.701 mmol, 67%). Mp 122-124° C.; [α]_(D) ²⁸=+8.7 (c 0.505 in CHCl₃); v_(max) 3305, 3028, 2997, 2926, 2831, 1611, 1567, 1510, 1493, 1459, 1161, 811, 727, 701 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.52 (2H, d, J 8.4, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄I), 7.18-7.04 (8H, m, —CH of phenyl, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄I), 6.98 (2H, d, J 8.8, —CH of —C₆H₄(OCH₃)), 6.96-6.91 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.79 (2H, d, J 8.8, —CH of —C₆H₄(OCH₃)), 6.33 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.30 (1H, d, J 7.4, —CHNHTs), 3.78 (3H, s, —OCH₃), 3.61 (1H, d, J 7.4, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.53-2.40 (3H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.31-2.26 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 1.74-1.59 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.28 (1H, br s, —NH(CH₂)₃—); δc (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 157.75(C), 139.83(C), 139.05(C), 137.94(C), 137.56(2CH), 133.70(C), 129.17(2CH), 128.38(4CH), 128.08(2CH), 127.57(CH), 127.48(3CH), 127.24(2CH), 113.75(2CH), 99.29(C), 67.49(CH), 63.09(CH), 55.24(OCH₃), 46.40(CH₂), 32.32(CH₂), 31.60(CH₂); m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 627.1; HRMS found 627.1174 (C₃₀H₃₁IN₂O₃S H+ requires 627.1173, error=−0.1 ppm).

{4-Iodo-N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)benzenesulfonamide}-ruthenium chloride SRC 1135/1312

Compound C₃₀H₃₁IN₂O₃S (0.300 g, 0.479 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ (0.154 g, 0.150 mmol, 0.5 eq) were dissolved in dry DCM (15 mL) under N₂ and stirred at room temp for 30 min to give a brick red solution. The mixture was concentrated on a rotavapor to give a dark orange residue. To this, chlorobenzene (30 mL) was added and mixture heated at 90° C. for 5 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give a dark brown residue. The solid was scratched in diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 86:14) to give compound as a brown solid. The solid was recrystallized from MeOH to give pure product as an orange solid (0.125 g, 0.164 mmol, 34%). Mp decomposition>280° C.; [α]_(D) ²⁸=−164.54 (c 0.055 in CHCl₃); v_(max) 3198, 3051, 3027, 2925, 2872, 1572, 1533, 1509, 1465, 1454, 1279, 1266, 1255, 835, 796, 725, 694 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (500 MHz, CD₂Cl₂) 7.34 (2H, d, J 8.3, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄I), 7.23-7.16 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.10 (2H, d, J 8.3, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄I), 6.96-6.86 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.73-6.70 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.60 (2H, d, J 7.5, —CH of phenyl), 5.55 (1H, d, J 5.8, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.51 (1H, d, J 5.8, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.37 (1H, d, J 6.0, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.31 (1H, d, J 6.0, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.27 (1H, d, J 11.0, —CHNTs), 4.00-3.96 (1H, m, —NH(CH₂)₃—), 3.96 (3H, s, —OCH₃), 3.68-3.63 (1H, m, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.80-2.75 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.53-2.44 (2H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CHH—), 2.34-2.29 (1H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CHH—), 2.16-2.10 (1H, m, —NH—CH₂CHHCH₂—), 2.02-1.93 (1H, m, —NH—CH₂CHHCH₂—); δc (125 MHz, CD₂Cl₂) 147.61(C), 138.96(C), 136.87(2CH), 136.80(C), 135.27(C), 129.45(2CH), 129.21(CH), 129.09(4CH), 128.96(CH), 127.64(2CH), 126.83(2CH), 95.45(C), 91.85(C), 85.34(CH), 81.68(CH), 79.63(CH), 72.19(CH), 69.13(CH), 65.75(CH), 57.19(OCH₃), 50.08(CH₂), 31.09(CH₂), 27.63(CH₂); m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 727.0; HRMS found 727.0072 (C₃₀H₃₀N₂O₃RuS—Cl+ requires 727.0067, error=−1.4 ppm).

N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)-4-(2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl)benzenesulfonamide SRC 1134/1156

In glass tube diamine C₃₀H₃₁IN₂O₃S (0.501 g, 0.8 mmol, 1.0 eq), PdCl₂(PPh₃)₄ (28 mg, 0.040 mmol, 0.05 eq) and CuI (15.3 mg, 0.080 mmol, 0.1 eq) were dissolved in dry THF (10 mL) under an inert atmosphere followed by TEA (2.5 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred for 5 min followed by addition of trimethylsilylacetylene (0.382 mL, 2.71 mmol, 3.89 eq). The glass tube was sealed under an inert atmosphere and stirred at room temperature for 22 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite and washed with EtOAc (2×20 mL). The filtrate was concentrated on a rotavapor to give a residue. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (26:74) as an eluent to give the pure product as a light green solid (0.426 g, 0.714 mmol, 89%). Mp 48-50° C.; [α]_(D) ²⁸=+9.29 (c 0.280 in CHCl₃); v_(max) 3263, 3060, 3030, 2931, 2834, 2159, 1611, 1590, 1510, 1453, 1395, 1244, 1153, 838, 758, 697 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.37 (2H, d, J 8.4, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄—), 7.28 (2H, d, J 8.4, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄—), 7.15-7.02 (6H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.99 (2H, d, J 8.4, —CH of —C₆H₄(OCH₃)), 6.95-6.89 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.80 (2H, d, J 8.4, —CH of —C₆H₄(OCH₃)), 6.37 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.27 (1H, d, J 8.0, —CHNHTs), 3.78 (3H, s, —OCH₃), 3.59 (1H, d, J 8.0, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.55-2.40 (3H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.32-2.26 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 1.75-1.61 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.37 (1H, br s, —NH(CH₂)₃—), 0.26 (9H, s, —Si(CH₃)₃); δc (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 157.75(C), 139.59(C), 139.06(C), 137.96(C), 133.72(C), 131.82(2CH), 129.18(2CH), 128.37(2CH), 128.01(2CH), 127.58(CH), 127.53(2CH), 127.50(CH), 127.28(2CH), 127.01(CH), 126.83(2CH), 113.76(2CH), 103.38(C), 97.76(C), 67.71(CH), 63.31(CH), 55.23(OCH₃), 46.42(CH₂), 32.33(CH₂), 31.63(CH₂), −0.194(Si(CH₃)₃); ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 597.2.

{N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)-4-(2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl)benzenesulfonamide}-ruthenium chloride SRC 1139/1158

Diamine C₃₅H₄₀N₂O₃SSi (0.373 g, 0.626 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ (0.202 g, 0.313 mmol, 0.5 eq) were dissolved in dry DCM (15 mL) under N₂ and stirred at room temp for 30 min to give a brick red solution. The mixture was concentrated on a rotavpor to give a dark orange residue. To this, chlorobenzene (30 mL) was added and mixture heated at 90° C. for 5.5 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give a dark brown residue. The solid was scratched in diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 86:14) to give the crude compound as a brown solid. The solid was recrystallized from MeOH to give pure complex as orange solid (0.094 g, 0.128 mmol, 20%). Mp decomposition>280° C.; [α]_(D) ²⁸=−328.33 (c 0.03 in CHCl₃); v_(max) 3190, 3051, 2936, 2917, 2156, 1533, 1465, 1454, 1257, 1181, 1041, 839, 814, 799, 760, 696 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.31 (2H, d, J 8.2, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄—), 7.165-7.07 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.03 (2H, d, J 8.4, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄—), 6.83-6.79 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.68-6.64 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.55 (2H, d, J 7.6, —CH of phenyl), 5.55 (1H, d, J 5.6, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.48 (1H, d, J 5.6, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.32 (1H, d, J 6.0, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.28 (1H, d, J 6.0, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.30 (1H, d, J 11.2, —CHNTs), 4.06-3.99 (1H, m, —NH(CH₂)₃—), 3.96 (3H, s, —OCH₃), 3.62-3.56 (1H, m, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.81-2.75 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.52-2.42 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.24-2.48 (1H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CHH—), 2.34-2.26 (1H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CHH—), 2.13-1.95 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 0.24 (9H, s, —Si(CH₃)₃); δc (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 146.67(C), 138.45(C), 136.21(C), 134.65(C), 130.72(4CH), 128.72(4CH), 128.41(CH), 127.05(2CH), 126.80(2CH), 126.45(CH), 123.15(C), 104.97(C), 96.68(C), 91.18(C), 84.62(CH), 81.33(CH), 78.79(CH), 72.03(CH), 68.84(CH), 65.46(CH), 56.80(OCH₃), 49.43(CH₂), 30.34(CH₂), 27.27(CH₂), −0.006(Si(CH₃)₃); ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 697.1; HRMS found 697.1494 (C₃₅H₃₉N₂O₃RuSSi—Cl+ requires 697.1497, error=−0.1 ppm).

Ethoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)benzenesulfonamide SRC 1215

To a mixture of (R,R)-DPEN (0.637 g, 3.00 mmol) and TEA (0.760 mL, 5.460 mmol, 1.82 eq) in dry DCM (20 mL) was added a solution of chloride C₁₄H₂₁ClO₆S (1.056 g, 3.00 mmol, 1.0 eq) in dry DCM (10 mL) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 18 h. The mixture was concentrated on a rotavapor to give a crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using DCM:MeOH (95:5) as an eluent to give pure compound as an oil (1.380 g, 2.614 mmol, 87%). [α]_(D) ²⁸=−11.15 (c 0.740 in CHCl₃); v_(max) 3280, 3062, 3030, 2972, 2868, 1594, 1580, 1495, 1453, 1323, 1301, 1255, 1179, 1094, 1054, 923, 832, 766, 698 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.34 (2H, d, J 8.8, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄—), 7.18-7.14 (6H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.11-7.09 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.67 (2H, d, J 8.8, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄—), 6.01 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.35 (1H, d, J 5.6, —CHNHTs), 4.11-4.08 (3H, m, —CHNH₂, —C₆H₄—OCH₂CH₂O—), 3.85 (2H, t, J 4.8, —C₆H₄—OCH₂CH₂O—), 3.75-3.72 (2H, m, —OCH₂CH₂O—CH₂CH₂OEt), 3.70-3.68 (2H, m, —OCH₂CH₂O—CH₂CH₂OEt), 3.67-3.64 (2H, m, —OCH₂CH₂O—CH₂CH₂OEt), 3.61-3.57 (2H, m, —OCH₂CH₂O—CH₂CH₂OEt), 3.52 (2H, q, J 7.1, —OCH₂CH₃), 1.51 (2H, br s, —NH₂), 1.20 (3H, t, J 7.1, —OCH₂CH₃); δc (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 161.49(C), 141.46(C), 139.18(C), 131.93(C), 128.86(2CH), 128.41(2CH), 128.21(2CH), 127.51(CH), 127.37(CH), 127.01(2CH), 126.51(2CH), 114.25(2CH), 70.88(CH₂), 70.72(CH₂), 70.63(CH₂), 69.79(CH₂), 69.41 (CH₂), 67.66(CH₂), 66.61(CH₂), 63.15(CH), 60.52(CH), 15.13(CH₃); m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 529.2; HRMS found 529.2354 (C₂₈H₃₆N₂O₆S H+ requires 529.2367, error=1.6 ppm).

4-(2-(2-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)-N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)benzenesulfonamide SRC 1220

To a mixture of alcohol C₁₀H₁₄O₂ (0.266 g, 1.60 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 2,6-lutidine (0.245 mL, 2.10 mmol, 2.10 eq) in dry DCM (15 mL) was added a solution of triflic anhydride (1M in DCM) (1.7 mL, 1.70 mmol, 1.70 eq) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 60 min. The mixture was again cooled down to 0° C. To this, a solution of compound C₂₈H₃₆N₂O₆S (0.560 g, 1.0 mmol, 1.0 eq) and TEA (0.334 mL, 2.4 mmol, 2.4 eq) in dry DCM (10 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C. The resulting yellow coloured mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 17 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (20 mL) and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution (3×20 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×20 mL), brine (15 mL), dried over anhy. Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (70:30) as an eluent to give a residue. The residue was triturated in n-pentane (to remove traces of 2,6-lutidine) but there was no any solid separation. The solvent was evaporated to give pure compound an oil (0.510 g, 0.754 mmol, 75%). [α]_(D) ²⁸=−11.9 (c 0.470 in CHCl₃); v_(max) 3262, 5062, 3029, 2864, 1594, 1580, 1511, 1495, 1453, 1300, 1244, 1149, 1093, 1030, 924, 830, 770, 698 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.39 (2H, d, J 8.8, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄—), 7.15-7.12 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.06-7.02 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.00 (2H, d, J 8.6, —CH of —C₆H₄OCH₃), 6.94-6.88 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.80 (2H, d, J 8.6, —CH of —C₆H₄OCH₃), 6.70 (2H, d, J 8.8, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄—), 6.26 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.22 (1H, d, J 8.0, —CHNHTs), 4.11-4.08 (2H, m, —C₆H₄—OCH₂CH₂O—), 3.85 (2H, t, J 5.0, —C₆H₄—OCH₂CH₂O—), 3.78 (3H, s, —OCH₃), 3.74-3.72 (2H, m, —OCH₂CH₂O—CH₂CH₂OEt), 3.70-3.68 (2H, m, —OCH₂CH₂O—CH₂CH₂OEt), 3.67-3.64 (2H, m, —OCH₂CH₂O—CH₂CH₂OEt), 3.60-3.56 (3H, m, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—, —OCH₂CH₂O—CH₂CH₂OEt), 3.52 (2H, q, J 7.2, —OCH₂CH₃), 2.54-2.40 (3H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.32-2.25 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 1.73-1.61 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.45 (1H, br s, —NH(CH₂)₃—), 1.20 (3H, t, J 7.2, —OCH₂CH₃); δc (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 161.59(C), 157.72(C), 139.26(C), 138.26(C), 133.78(C), 131.86(C), 129.17(2CH), 129.12(2CH), 128.28(2CH), 127.90(2CH), 127.55(2CH), 127.46(CH), 127.35(2CH), 127.28(CH), 114.20(2CH), 113.73(2CH), 70.88(CH₂), 70.71(CH₂), 70.62(CH₂), 69.79(CH₂), 69.41(CH₂), 67.73(CH), 67.68(CH₂), 66.61(CH₂), 63.04(CH), 55.22(OCH₃), 46.42(CH₂), 32.33(CH₂), 31.68(CH₂), 15.13(CH₃); m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 677.3; HRMS found 677.3254 (C₃₈H₄₈N₂O₇S H+ requires 677.3255, error=0.3 ppm).

{4-(2-(2-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)-N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)benzenesulfonamide}-ruthenium chloride SRC 1221/1238/1303

Compound C₃₈H₄₈N₂O₇S (0.203 g, 0.300 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ (0.097 g, 0.150 mmol, 0.5 eq) were dissolved in dry DCM (15 mL) under N₂ and stirred at room temp for 30 min to give a brick red solution. The mixture was concentrated on a rotavapor to give dark orange residue. To this, chlorobenzene (20 mL) was added and mixture heated at 90° C. for 6 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give a dark brown residue. The solid was scratched in diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give a dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (97:3 to 86:14) to give the compound as a brown solid. The solid was recrystallized from MeOH to give pure complex as orange brown solid (0.075 g, 0.092 mmol, 30%). Mp decomposition>180° C.; [α]_(D) ²⁹=+646.7 (c 0.003 in CHCl₃); v_(max) 3191, 3059, 3027, 2865, 1725, 1594, 1536, 1510, 1494, 1453, 1248, 1124, 1081, 1038, 1011, 938, 906, 815, 801.698 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.31 (2H, d, J 8.6, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄—), 7.17-7.06 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.85-6.74 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.68-6.64 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.55 (2H, d, J 7.2, —CH of phenyl), 6.46 (2H, d, J 8.6, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄—), 5.55 (1H, d, J 4.2, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.47 (1H, d, J 4.2, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.34 (1H, d, J 5.4, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.26 (1H, d, J 5.4, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.30 (1H, d, J 10.8, —CHNTs), 4.06-3.94 (6H, m, —C₆H₄—OCH₂CH₂O—, —OCH₃, —NH(CH₂)₃—), 3.81 (2H, t, J 4.8, —C₆H₄—OCH₂CH₂O—), 3.72-3.65 (6H, m, —OCH₂CH₂O—CH₂CH₂OEt), 3.61-3.57 (2H, m, —OCH₂CH₂O—CH₂CH₂OEt, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 3.52 (2H, q, J 7.0, —OCH₂CH₃), 2.82-2.72 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.51-2.37 (2H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CHH—), 2.33-2.27 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CHH—), 2.17-1.96 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.20 (3H, t, J 7.0, —OCH₂CH₃); δc (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 158.92(C), 139.06(C), 138.65(C), 136.28(C), 134.60(C), 128.75(2CH), 128.62(6CH), 128.31(CH), 126.92(2CH), 126.16(CH), 113.12(2CH), 91.10(C), 84.65(CH), 81.49(CH), 78.56(CH), 72.15(CH), 7.77(CH₂), 70.66(CH₂), 70.58(CH₂), 69.76(CH₂), 69.55(CH₂), 68.91(CH), 67.40(CH₂), 66.59(CH₂), 65.52(CH), 56.76(OCH₃), 49.36(CH₂), 30.22(CH₂), 27.30(CH₂), 15.12(CH₃); m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 777.1; HRMS found 777.2163 (C₃₈H₄₇N₂O₇RuS—Cl+ requires 777.2151, error=−2.0 ppm).

(1R,2R)-N,N-Bis(3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propyl)-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine

To a nitrogen purged, dried flask was added 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol (416 mg, 2.50 mmol) was added 2,6-lutidine (321 mg, 3.00 mmol) and anhydrous DCM (5 cm³). The solution was cooled to 0° C. and to it as added a solution of Tf₂O (759 mg, 2.70 mmol) in anhydrous DCM (1 cm³). The reaction was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 60 min. After this the reaction was again cooled to 0° C. and to it was added a solution of (R,R)-DPEN (212 mg, 1.00 mmol) and Et₃N (354 mg, 3.5 mmol) in anhydrous DCM (1 cm³). The reaction was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature overnight. After this DCM was added and the reaction washed with saturated NaHCO₃ solution (aq). (3×10 cm³). The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and the solvent removed under reduced pressure to leave the crude as a yellow oil. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 0-50% EtOAc in petroleum ether, TLC: silica gel, 30% EtOAc in petroleum ether, product Rf=0.18 visualisation by UV and KMnO₄, 2,6-lutidine Rf=0.38 visualisation by UV, 2,6-lutidine elutes before product) to give the product as a white solid (326 mg, 0.64 mmol, 64% based on (R,R)-DPEN). [α]_(D) ²⁶+4.4 (c 0.5 in CHCl₃) (R,R); (found (ESI): M⁺+H, 509.3164 C₃₄H₄₁N₂O₂ requires M, 509.3163); υ_(max) 2931, 2834, 1510, 1452, 1243, 1035, 830, 810, 731, 698, cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.17-7.12 (6H, m, CHAr), 7.07-7.02 (8H, m, CHAr), 3.77 (6H, s, CH₃), 3.63 (2H, s, CHN), 2.57-2.36 (8H, m, ArCH₂ and CH₂NH overlapping), 1.79-1.69 (4H, m, CH₂CH₂CH₂N); δ_(C) (75 MHz, CDCl₃) 157.06 (2 CAr), 141.00 (2 CAr), 133.76 (2 CAr), 128.67 (4 CHAr), 127.32 (4 CHAr), 127.28 (4 CHAr), 126.22 (2 CHAr), 113.09 (4 CHAr), 68.66 (2 CH), 54.65 (2 CH₃), 46.45 (2 CH₂), 31.97 (2 CH₂), 31.44 (2 CH₂); m/z (ESI) 509.3 (M⁺+1).

Cationic Tethered Ruthenium Complex (‘Cationic Complex’)

This compound was prepared according to the general method using (1R,2R)-N,N-Bis(3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propyl)-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine (200 mg, 0.40 mmol), ethylbenzoate ruthenium(II)chloride dimer (129 mg, 0.20 mmol), DCM (10.3 cm³) and chlorobenzene (26.7 cm³). It was only necessary to stir the reaction in chlorobenzene at 90° C. for 1 hour before complete consumption of the ligand was observed by TLC. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 0-30% MeOH in DCM, TLC: silica plate, 5% MeOH in DCM, visualisation in natural light, product Rf=0.48 yellow) to give the product as a yellow/orange solid (158 mg, 0.24 mmol, 60%). Mp 85° C.; [α]_(D) ²⁸+210 (c 0.01 in CHCl₃) (R, R); (found (ESI): M⁺, 645.1820. C₃₄H₄₀ClN₂O₂Ru requires M, 645.1822); υ_(max) 3059, 2928, 1511, 1454, 1244, 1177, 1029, 1005, 805, 763, 701 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 8.72 (1H, br s, NH), 7.96 (1H, br s, NH), 7.12-7.06 (6H, m, CHAr), 6.86-6.81 (4H, m, CHAr), 6.75-6.68 (4H, m, CHAr), 5.69-5.67 (1H, m, CHAr—Ru), 5.45-5.43 (1H, m, CHAr—Ru), 5.18-5.16 (1H, m, CHAr—Ru), 5.10-5.09 (1H, m, CHAr—Ru), 4.39 (1H, br s, CHNH), 3.95-3.86 (1H, m, CHNH), 3.60 (3H, s, CH₃OAr—Ru), 3.05-3.02 (2H, m, CH₂), 2.87 (2H, br s, CH₂), 2.33-2.30 (4H, m, CH₂), 2.17 (3H, s, CH₃OAr(CH₂)₃N), 1.91 (1H, br s, CH₂), 1.72-1.59 (3H, m, CH₂); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 157.67 (CAr), 137.78 (CAr), 136.34 (CAr), 135.04 (CAr), 134.73 (CAr), 132.78 (CAr), 129.07 (2 CHAr), 129.00 (2 CHAr), 128.93 (2 CHAr), 128.76 (CHAr), 128.56 (2 CHAr), 128.26 (2 CHAr), 127.52 (CHAr), 113.65 (2 CHAr), 100.47 (CAr—Ru), 86.98 (CAr—Ru), 86.75 (CHAr—Ru), 75.53 (CHAr—Ru), 71.31 (CHAr—Ru), 70.10 (CHAr—Ru), 66.97 (CH), 56.69 (CH), 55.24 (CH₃), 53.38 (CH₂), 32.31 (CH₂), 31.82 (CH₂), 30.12 (CH₂), 30.09 (CH₃), 29.14 (CH₂), 27.74 (1C, s); m/z (ESI) 645.2 (M⁺). Asymmetric reduction with this complex gave no reduction in FA/TEA, or pressure hydrogenation however it was active using sodium formate in aqueous solution (Table 3).

N-(2-(Biphenyl-2-yl)methylamino)ethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulphonamide

To biphenylcarboxaldehyde (182 mg, 1.00 mmol) was added activated molecular sieves (1 g) and anhydrous MeOH (6 cm³). To this was added TsEN (246 mg, 1.10 mmol) and acetic acid (50 μL). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 5 hours and then NaBH₃CN (251 mg, 4.00 mmol) was added and the reaction stirred at room temperature overnight. After this the reaction was filtered and the solid washed with DCM. The filtrate and DCM washings were combined and dried under reduced pressure. The residue was then dissolved in anhydrous DCM and washed with 1M NaOH (aq) solution. The DCM phase was separated, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and the solvent removed under reduced pressure to give the product as a pale yellow viscous oil (134 mg, 0.35 mmol, 70%). Purification was not necessary. (found (ESI): M⁺+H, 381.1632 C₂₂H₂₅N₂O₂S requires M, 381.1631); υ_(max) 3272, 2858, 1477, 1450, 1322, 1155, 1091, 814, 775, 750, 703 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.67 (2H, d J, 8.1 Hz, SO₂CHAr), 7.43-7.11 (13H, m, CHAr and NH overlapping), 3.58 (2H, s, ArCH₂N), 2.84 (2H, dd J, 6.5 and 4.8 Hz, CH₂NHSO₂), 2.50 (2H, dd J, 6.5 and 4.8 Hz, CH₂NH), 2.40 (3H, s, CH₃); δ_(C) (75 MHz, CDCl₃) 142.64 (CAr), 141.24 (CAr), 140.53 (CAr), 136.39 (CAr), 136.22 (CAr), 129.57 (CHAr), 129.04 (2 CHAr), 128.50 (CHAr), 128.27 (2 CHAr), 127.68 (2 CHAr), 126.95 (CHAr), 126.62 (CHAr), 126.55 (CHAr), 126.49 (2 CHAr), 50.06 (CH₂), 46.65 (CH₂), 41.60 (CH₂), 20.92 (CH₃); m/z (ESI) 381.0 (M⁺+1).

{N-(1R,2R)-[2-(biphenyl-2-yl)methylamino]ethyl-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide}ruthenium chloride SRC 1301 a (2) (‘Achiral Bn’ Complex)

Diamine C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₂S (0.450 g, 1.184 mmol, 1.0 eq) and [RuCl₂(C₉H₁₀O₂)]₂ (0.381 g, 0.592 mmol, 0.5 eq) were dissolved in dry DCM (40 mL) under N₂ and stirred at room temp for 30 min to give a brick red solution. The mixture was concentrated on a rotavpor to give a dark orange residue. To this, chlorobenzene (60 mL) was added and mixture heated at 140° C. for 5.5 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated to give a dark brown residue. The solid was scratched in diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give a dark brown solid. The solid was purified by column chromatography over Florisil using DCM:MeOH (95:5 to 86:14) to give compound as a brown solid. The solid was recrystallized using a mixture of MeOH and Et₂O to give pure complex as brown solid (0.105 g, 0.203 mmol, 14%). Mp decomposition>184° C.; v_(max) 3059, 2922, 2855, 1596, 1480, 1439, 1260, 1182, 1129, 811, 747, 704, 659 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (600 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.74 (2H, d, J 6.9, m-CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 7.52-7.40 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.16 (2H, d, J 6.9, o-CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 6.67 (1H, br s, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.81 (1H, br s, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.68 (1H, br s, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.28 (1H, br s, —CH of Ru—Ar), 5.25 (1H, br s, —CH of Ru—Ar), 4.78 (1H, br d, —CH₂—NH—CHH—C₆H₄—), 4.49 (1H, br s, —CHNH—CH₂—), 4.28 (1H, br d, —CH₂—NH—CHH—C₆H₄—), 3.07 (1H, br d, —NHTs-CHH—), 2.59 (1H, br s, —CHH—NH—CH₂—C₆H₄—), 2.33 (4H, br s, —NHTs-CHH—, —CH₃), 2.14 (1H, br s, —CHH—NH—CH₂—C₆H₄—); δc (150 MHz, CDCl₃) 140.49(C), 140.40(C), 134.69(C), 132.36(C), 131.24(CH), 129.81(CH), 129.74(CH), 129.37(CH), 128.66(2CH), 127.13(2CH), 93.04(C), 92.28(CH), 90.62(CH), 81.27(CH), 78.90(CH), 77.47(CH), 57.75(CH₂), 55.43(CH₂), 48.25(CH₂), 21.31 (CH₃); m/z ESI-MS [M-Cl]⁺ 480.9; HRMS found 481.0524 (C₂₂H₂₃N₂O₂SRu—Cl+ requires 481.0523, error=−0.7 ppm).

Asymmetric Hydrogenation Procedures:

ATH in water: Catalyst (0.01 mmol) was placed in a Schlenk tube under an inert atmosphere followed by HCOONa (0.340 g, 5.0 mmol) and H₂O (1 mL). The mixture was degassed three times and to this solution ketone (1 mmol) was added followed by degassing 2 times. The mixture was stirred at 60° C. The reaction was monitored by chiral GC. For chiral GC analysis, the sample from the reaction mixture was diluted with Et₂O and H₂O. The organic layer was separated, filtered through a short column of silica using hexane:EtOAc (1:1). The filtrate was analysed by chiral GC. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was diluted with H₂O and extracted with Et₂O (2×5 mL). The organic layers were combined, dried over anhy. Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give crude compound. The crude compound was purified by flash column chromatography to give pure product.

Recycling of catalyst using hexane/pet.ether/n-pentane: Catalyst (0.01 mmol) was placed in a Schlenk tube under an inert atmosphere followed by HCOONa (0.340 g, 5.0 mmol) and H₂O (1 mL). The mixture was degassed three times and to this ketone (1 mmol) was added followed by degassing 2 times. The mixture was stirred at 60° C. The reaction was monitored by chiral GC. For chiral GC analysis, the sample from the reaction mixture was diluted with Et₂O and H₂O. The organic layer was separated and filtered through a short column of silica using hexane:EtOAc (1:1). The filtrate was analysed by chiral GC. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and diluted with hexane/pet.ether/n-pentane (2 mL). The organic layers were separated and this process was repeated again two times with hexane/pet.ether/n-pentane (2 mL). During this process, the catalyst separated out as brown solid. The mixture was degassed two times followed by addition of HCOOH (1 mmol). To this mixture ketone (1 mmol) was added and stirred at 60° C. and the second cycle of the reaction was followed by chiral GC analysis.

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation in FA:TEA: To a mixture of catalyst (0.002 mmol) in FA:TEA (5:2) (1.0 mL) was added ketone (2.0 mmol) and the mixture was stirred at 60° C. for 24 h under an inert atmosphere. The reaction was monitored by TLC. After 24 h, the reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc and sat. NaHCO₃ soln. The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O, dried over anhy. Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give a brown residue. The crude compound was analysed by ¹H-NMR to give the conversion.

Data for the Reduction Products:

(R)-1-Phenylethanol SRC 1237

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.38-7.24 (5H, m, Ph), 4.87 (1H, q, J 6.5, —CH), 2.07 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.48 (3H, d, J 6.5, —CH₃); δ_(C) (75 MHz, CDCl₃): 145.20, 127.90(2C), 126.87, 124.78(2C), 69.81, 24.55; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=110° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 6.56 min, R isomer 14.61 min, S isomer 16.50 min; [α]_(D) ²⁸=+58.1 (c 0.730 in CHCl₃) for 97% ee [lit. value [α]_(D) ²⁷=+54.9 (c 1.0 in CHCl₃) 96% ee (R)]^(x).

J. Hannedouche, G. Clarkson and M. Wills, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 986-987.

(S)-1-Cyclohexylethanol SRC 1194/1196

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 3.58-3.50 (1H, m, CHOH), 1.87-1.65 (5H, m, cyclohexyl), 1.50 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.33-1.18 (4H, m, cyclohexyl), 1.15 (3H, d, J 6.3, —CH₃), 1.10-0.89 (2H, m, cyclohexyl); δ_(C) (75 MHz, CDCl₃): 72.22(CH), 45.08, 28.67, 28.32, 26.48, 26.19, 26.0, 20.35(CH₃); the enantiomeric excess determined by GC analysis of acetate derivative (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=100° C., P=18 psi, He gas) S isomer 13.80 min, R isomer 18.64 min; [α]_(D) ²⁶=+3.03 (c 0.560 in CHCl₃) for 85% ee [lit. value [α]_(D) ²²=+2.7 (c 0.5 in CHCl₃) 75% ee (R)]^(x).

G. Li and G. W. Kabalka, Journal of Organometallic Chemistry, 1999, 581 (1-2), 66-69.

(R)-1-Phenyl-1-propanol SRC 1240

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.36-7.25 (5H, m, Ph), 4.58 (1H, t, J 6.4, —CH), 2.03 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.87-1.68 (2H, m, —CH₂), 1.48 (3H, d, J 7.4, —CH₃); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃): 144.55, 128.36(2C), 127.46, 125.94(2C), 75.99, 31.84, 10.11; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=115° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 8.48 min, R isomer 19.39 min, S isomer 21.00 min; [α]_(D) ²⁹=+53.6 (c 0.750 in CHCl₃) for 98% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D) ²⁵=−47.2 (c 0.65 in CHCl₃) 99% ee (S)]^(x).

Nakamura, K; Matsuda, T. J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 8957-8964.

(R)-1-Tetralol SRC 1241

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.47-7.37 (1H, m, —CH of Ph), 7.22-7.05 (3H, m, —CH of Ph), 4.78 (1H, br s, —CH), 2.89-2.65 (2H, m, —CH₂), 2.03-1.74 (5H, m, —CHOH—CH₂—CH₂); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃): 138.77, 137.09, 128.99, 128.62, 127.56, 126.16, 68.14, 32.24, 29.21, 18.75; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=120° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 24.70 min, S isomer 44.00 min, R isomer 45.12 min; [α]_(D) ²⁸=−30.5 (c 1.000 in CHCl₃) for 97% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D)=+34.4 (c 1.01 in CHCl₃) 98% ee (S)]^(x).

Palmer, M.; Walsgrove, T.; Wills, M. J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 5226-5228

(R)-1-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethanol SRC 1243

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.30 (4H, br s, —CH of Ph), 4.86 (1H, t, J 6.4, —CH), 2.00 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.48 (3H, d, J 6.4, —CH₃); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃): 144.19, 133.00, 128.55(2C), 126.75(2C), 89.69, 25.23; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=150° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 4.48 min, R isomer 7.75 min, S isomer 8.56 min; [α]_(D) ²⁶=+45.0 (c 0.840 in CHCl₃) for 95% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D)=+38.6 (c 1.01 in CHCl₃) 88% ee (R)]^(x).

M. Locatelli, P. G. Cozzi. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed, 2003, 42, 4928-4930.

(R)-1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)ethanol SRC 1242

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.30 (2H, d, J 8.7, —CH of Ph), 6.88 (2H, d, J 8.7, —CH of Ph), 4.85 (1H, t, J 6.4, —CH), 3.80 (3H, s, —OCH₃), 1.88 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.48 (3H, d, J 6.4, —CH₃); δ_(C) (75 MHz, CDCl₃): 158.92, 137.94, 126.63(2C), 113.79(2C), 69.96, 55.25, 24.98; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=115° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 13.20 min, R isomer 18.04 min, S isomer 19.81 min; [α]_(D) ²⁶²=+47.4 (c 0.610 in CHCl₃) for 97% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D) ²⁷=+32.3 (c 1.0 in CHCl₃) 90% ee (R)]^(x).

J. Hannedouche, G. Clarkson, M. Wills, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 986-987.

(R)-1-(3-Methoxyphenyl)ethanol SRC 1245

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.26 (1H, t, J 8.1, —CH of Ph), 6.95-6.93 (2H, m, —CH of Ph), 6.81 (1H, ddd J 8.1, 2.4, 0.9, —CH of Ph), 4.86 (1H, t, J 6.3, —CH), 3.81 (3H, s, —OCH₃), 1.94 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.48 (3H, d, J 6.3, —CH₃); δ_(C) (75 MHz, CDCl₃): 159.72, 147.56, 129.50, 117.63, 112.84, 110.83, 70.30, 55.19, 25.11; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=140° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 6.45 min, R isomer 11.75 min, S isomer 12.69 min; [α]_(D) ²⁸=+38.06 (c 0.670 in CHCl₃) for 97% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D) ²³=+31.8 (c 2.0 in CHCl₃) 94% ee (R)]^(x).

F. Wang, H. Liu, L. Cun, J. Zhu, J. Deng, Y. Jiang. J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 9424-9429.

(R)-1-(2-Methoxyphenyl)ethanol SRC 1246

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.34 (1H, dd, J 7.2, 1.2, —CH of Ph), 7.26-7.22 (1H, m, —CH of Ph), 6.96 (1H, t, J 7.4, —CH of Ph), 6.88 (1H, br d, J 8.0, —CH of Ph), 5.09 (1H, t, J 6.4, —CH), 3.85 (3H, s, —OCH₃), 2.72 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.50 (3H, d, J 6.4, —CH₃); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃): 156.52, 133.37, 128.26, 126.06, 120.76, 110.40, 66.51, 55.22, 22.80; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=150° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 4.66 min, S isomer 6.59 min, R isomer 6.89 min; [α]_(D) ²⁸=+26.5 (c 1.200 in CHCl₃) for 96% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D) ²⁰=+32.3 (c 2.0 in CHCl₃) 94% ee (R)]^(x).

T. S. Kaufman, Tetrahedron Lett. 1996, 37, 5329-5332.

(R)-1-(1-Naphthyl)ethanol SRC 1247

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 8.10 (1H, d, J 8.4, —CH of naphthyl), 7.86 (1H, dd, J 7.2, 2, —CH of naphthyl), 7.76 (1H, d, J 8.4, —CH of naphthyl), 7.76 (1H, d, J 7.2, —CH of naphthyl), 7.53-7.44 (3H, m, —CH of naphthyl), 5.65 (1H, q, J 6.4, —CH), 2.08 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.65 (3H, d, J 6.4, —CH₃); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃): 141.30, 133.77, 130.24, 128.86, 127.90, 126.00, 125.51, 125.49, 123.12, 121.95, 67.09, 24.30; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=160° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 10.37 min, S isomer 21.01 min, R isomer 22.40 min; [α]_(D) ³²=+60.3 (c 0.910 in CHCl₃) for 99% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D)=+67.3 (c 0.4 in CHCl₃) 100% ee (R)]^(x).

H. Ziffer, K. Kawai, M. Kasai, M. Imuta, C. Froussios. J. Org. Chem. 1983, 48, 3017-3021.

(R)-1-(2-Naphthyl)ethanol SRC 1248

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.87-7.73 (4H, m, —CH of naphthyl), 7.54-7.40 (3H, m, —CH of naphthyl), 5.04 (1H, t, J 6.4, —CH), 1.98 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.48 (3H, d, J 6.4, —CH₃); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃): 143.15, 133.29, 132.89, 128.28, 127.90, 127.64, 126.11, 125.76, 123.78(2C), 70.49, 25.10; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=150° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 18.92 min, R isomer 30.87 min, S isomer 33.38 min; [α]_(D) ²⁸=+46.4 (c 0.850 in CHCl₃) for 97% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D) ²³=+46.7 (c 1.02 in CHCl₃) 92% ee (R)]^(x).

Y. Ma, H. Liu, L. Chen, X, Cui, J. Zhu, J. Deng. Org. Lett. 2003, 5, 2103-2106.

(S)-1-Phenyl-2-chloroethanol SRC 1249

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.39-7.31 (5H, m, Ph), 4.89 (1H, m, —CHOH), 3.74 (1H, dd, J 11.4, 3.6, —CHHCl), 3.64 (1H, dd, J 11.4, 8.6, —CHHCl), 2.69 (1H, d, J 3.2, —OH); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃): 139.86, 128.65(2C), 128.43, 126.02(2C), 74.03, 50.88; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=150° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 6.96 min, R isomer 9.00 min, S isomer 9.60 min; [α]_(D) ³²=+61.8 (c 0.810 in CHCl₃) for 95% ee (S) [lit. value [α]_(D) ²²=+53.8 (c 1.0 in CHCl₃) >99% ee (S)]^(x).

D. Zhu, C. Mukherjee, L. Hua. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 2005, 16, 3275-3278.

(R)-1-(4-Trifluoromethylphenyl)ethanol SRC 1250

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.60 (2H, d, J 8.0, —CH of Ph), 7.48 (2H, d, J 7.9, —CH of Ph), 4.95 (1H, t, J 6.4, —CH), 2.11 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.49 (3H, d, J 6.4, —CH₃); δ_(C) (75 MHz, CDCl₃): 149.65, 125.93, 125.62(2C), 125.41 (2C, q, ³J_(C-F) 4.3 Hz), 122.33, 69.80, 25.36; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=120° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 5.02 min, R isomer 13.92 min, S isomer 17.19 min; [α]_(D) ²⁹=+32.5 (c 0.690 in CHCl₃) for 94% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D) ²²=+29.3 (c 1.0 in CHCl₃) >99% ee (R)]^(x).

D. Zhu, Y. Yang, L. Hua, J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71, 4202-4205.

(R)-1-(2-Trifluoromethylphenyl)ethanol SRC 1251

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.82 (1H, br d, J 7.8, —CH of Ph), 7.61-7.56 (2H, m, —CH of Ph), 7.36 (1H, t, J 7.5, —CH of Ph), 5.37-5.29 (1H, m, —CH), 2.03 (1H, br d, —OH), 1.48 (3H, d, J 6.6, —CH₃); δ_(C) (75 MHz, CDCl₃): 144.99, 132.36, 127.32, 127.06, 126.15, 125.27 (q, ³J_(C-F) 6.1 Hz), 122.52, 65.64, 25.40; the enantiomeric excess and conversion determined by GC analysis (CP-Chirasil-DEX CB 25 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, T=110° C., P=18 psi, He gas) Ketone 5.30 min, R isomer 16.74 min, S isomer 19.44 min; [α]_(D) ²⁵=+34.78 (c 1.11 in CHCl3) for 69% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D) ²²=−45.4 (c 0.661 in MeOH) 97% ee (S)]^(x).

Nakamura, K.; Matsuda, T. J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 8957.

(R)-1-(4-Aminophenyl)ethanol SRC 1254/1256/1261

δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.16 (2H, d, J 8.6, —CH of Ph), 6.66 (2H, d, J 8.6, —CH of Ph), 4.78 (1H, t, J 6.4, —CH), 3.61 (2H, br s, —NH₂), 1.80 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.45 (3H, d, J 6.4, —CH₃); δ_(C) (75 MHz, CDCl₃): 145.75, 135.89, 126.61(2C), 115.03(2C), 70.08, 24.75; the enantiomeric excess determined by chiral HPLC analysis (ChiralPak OD-H Column: 0.46 cm×25 cm, hexane:IPA 80:20, 1.0 mL/min, 239 nM, 30° C.) R_(t) (min)=18.61 (R isomer), 28.76 min (S isomer); [α]_(D) ²⁴=+43.07 (c 0.570 in MeOH) for 95.5% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D) ²⁷=+52.0 (c 0.54 in MeOH) 99% ee (R)]^(x).

T. Ohkuma, M. Koizumi, H. Doucet, T. Pham, M. Kozawa, K. Murata, E. Katayama, T. Yokozawa, T. Ikariya, R. Noyori. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1998, 120, 13529-13530.

(R)-1-[(4′-Dimethylamino)phenyl]ethanol SRC 1258/1260

δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.25 (2H, d, J 8.7, —CH of Ph), 6.72 (2H, d, J 8.7, —CH of Ph), 4.81 (1H, t, J 6.4, —CH), 2.93 (6H, s, N(CH₃)₂), 1.78 (1H, br s, —OH), 1.47 (3H, d, J 6.4, —CH₃); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃): 150.17, 133.17, 126.41(2C), 112.57(2C), 70.10, 40.67(2C), 24.64; the enantiomeric excess determined by chiral HPLC analysis (ChiralPak OD-H Column: 0.46 cm×25 cm, hexane:IPA 95:5, 1.0 mL/min, 256 nM, 30° C.) R_(t) (min)=15.21 (R isomer), 17.15 min (S isomer); [α]_(D) ²⁷=+54.2 (c 0.710 in CHCl₃) for 91% ee (R) [lit. value [α]_(D) ²⁵=+51.8 (c 21.0 in CHCl₃) 86% ee (R)]^(x).

T. Inagaki, L. T. Phong, A. Furuta, J. Ito, H. Nishiyama. Chem. Eur. J. 2010, 16, 3090-3096

Polymer-Supported Catalysts.

N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-(Hex-5-ynyloxy)phenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide

This compound was prepared according to general procedure 5 using 3 ethyl-3-(4-(hex-5-ynyloxy)phenyl)propan-1-ol (400 mg, 1.72 mmol), 2,6-lutidine (353 mg, 3.30 mmol), trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (787 mg, 2.80 mmol), (R,R)-TsDPEN (403 mg, 1.10 mmol), Et₃N (263 mg, 2.60 mmol) and DCM (8 cm³). The product was purified by column chromatography as in the general procedure. TLC: silica gel, 30% EtOAc in petroleum ether, product Rf=0.36 with visualisation by UV and KMnO₄, 2,6-lutidine Rf=0.29 with visualisation by UV, 2,6-lutidine elutes with the product). The fractions containing the product were collected, combined and dried under reduced pressure to give a white solid. The solid was then washed with pentane to remove residual 2,6-lutidine. The mixture was filtered and the solid dried to give the product as a white solid (524 mg, 0.900 mmol, 82% based on 403 mg, 1.1 mmol N-(2-aminoethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide)). Mp 123-124° C.; [α]_(D) ²⁷−25.2 (c 0.25 in CHCl₃) (R,R); (found (ESI): M⁺+H, 581.2833 C₃₆H₄₁N₂O₃S requires M, 581.2832); υ_(max) 3286, 3248, 2915, 1510, 1454, 1434, 1316, 1242, 1160, 1031, 808, 700 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.37 (2H, d, J 8.5 Hz, CHArSO₂), 7.13-7.11 (3H, m, CHAr), 7.05-6.88 (12H, m, CHAr and NHSO₂ overlapping), 6.78 (2H, d, J 8.5 Hz, CHArSO₂), 6.28 (1H, br s, NH), 4.25 (1H, d, J 7.8 Hz, CHNSO₂), 3.95 (2H, t, J 5.0 Hz, CH₂OAr), 3.59 (1H, d, J 7.8 Hz, CHN), 2.51-2.38 (3H, m, ArCH₂ and CH₂N overlapping), 2.31 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.29-2.24 (3H, m, HCCCH₂ and CH₂N overlapping), 1.96 (1H, t, J 2.6 Hz, HCCCH₂), 1.92-1,85 (2H, m, CH₂CH₂CH₂OAr), 1.75-1.61 (4H, m, CH₂CH₂N and HCCCH₂CH₂); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 157.20 (CAr), 142.70 (CAr), 139.33 (CAr), 138.39 (CAr), 137.09 (CAr), 133.79 (CAr), 129.21 (2 CHAr), 129.10 (2 CHAr), 128.31 (2 CHAr), 127.93 (2 CHAr), 127.58 (2 CHAr), 127.46 (CHAr), 127.41 (2 CHAr), 127.29 (CHAr), 127.13 (2 CHAr), 114.39 (2 CHAr) 84.18 (C), 68.64 (CH), 67.77 (CH), 67.29 (CH₂), 63.09 (CH), 46.45 (CH₂), 32.37 (CH₂), 31.71 (CH₂), 28.37 (CH₂), 25.11 (CH₂), 21.46 (CH₃), 18.19 (CH₂); m/z (ESI) 581.3 (M⁺+1).

(R,R)-3C-Tethered Monomer with o-Hexyne Substituent

This compound was prepared as for general procedure 7 using N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-(hex-5-ynyloxy)phenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)-4-methylbenzene sulfonamide (116 mg, 0.2 mmol), ethylbenzoate ruthenium(II)chloride dimer (64 mg, 0.1 mmol), DCM (5 cm³) and chlorobenzene (13.4 cm³). After 5 hours at 90° C. mass spectrometry analysis showed the desired monomer 2:1 two isomers (m/z 681.2 [M⁺+H−Cl]). Due to the small scale of the reaction, the product was not purified. The reaction was carried out as proof of concept for aryl substitution with this ligand structure prior to preparing the polymer supported derivatives.

N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-(4-(3-Benzyl-3H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)butoxy)phenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide

To a nitrogen purged flask was added the N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-(hex-5-ynyloxy)phenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (116 mg, 0.200 mmol), Cu(OAc)₂ (7 mg, 0.04 mmol) and sodium-(L)-ascorbate (16 mg, 0.08 mmol) and degassed solution of 1/1 THF/water (5 cm³). To the stirred solution was then added benzyl azide (32 mg, 0.24 mmol). The reaction became a blue colour when stirred and then became cloudy white. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 48 hours. After this EtOAc (10 cm³) was added followed by ammonium hydroxide (35%) solution. The EtOAc was separated and aqueous phase extracted with further EtOAc (2×10 cm³). The EtOAc phases were combined and washed with further ammonium hydroxide (35%) solution. The EtOAc phases were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and the solvent removed under reduced pressure to leave the product as a white solid (140 mg, 0.19 mmol, 95%). Purification was not necessary. Mp 123-124° C.; [α]_(D) ²⁷−25.2 (c 0.25 in CHCl₃) (R,R); (found (ESI): M⁺+H, 714.3481 C₄₃H₄₈N₅O₃S requires M, 714.3472); υ_(max) 2925, 1510, 1454, 1324, 1241, 1155, 1047, 811, 698 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.38-7.34 (4H, m, CHAr), 7.25-7.21 (3H, m, CHAr), 7.13-7.10 (3H, m, CHAr), 7.04-7.00 (5H, m, CHAr), 6.97-6.88 (6H, m, CHAr), 6.75 (2H, d, J 8.5 Hz, CHAr), 6.30 (1H, br s, NH), 5.46 (2H, s, ArCH₂NNN), 4.25 (1H, d, J 7.9 Hz, CHNHSO₂), 3.93 (2H, t, J 5.7 Hz, CH₂OAr), 3.59 (1H, d, J 7.9 Hz, CHNH), 2.76 (2H, t, J 7.0 Hz, CH₂CNNN), 2.49-2.38 (3H, m, CH₂Ar and CHHNH), 2.31-2.24 (4H, m, CH₃ and CHHNH overlapping), 1.84-1.81 (4H, m, CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂OAr), 1.69-1.61 (2H, m, CH₂CH₂NH); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 157.18 (CAr), 148.42 (CAr), 142.72 (CAr), 139.31 (CAr), 138.40 (CAr), 137.09 (CAr), 133.76 (CAr), 129.21 (2 CHAr), 129.12 (2 CHAr), 129.09 (2 CHAr), 128.64 (CHAr), 128.31 (2 CHAr), 128.01 (2 CHAr), 127.93 (2 CHAr), 127.58 (2 CHAr), 127.45 (2 CHAr), 127.28 (CHAr), 127.11 (2 CHAr), 120.72 (CHAr), 114.37 (2 CHAr), 82.82 (CH), 67.76 (CH), 67.52 (CH₂), 65.19 (C), 63.14 (CH), 62.18 (C), 54.01 (CH₂), 46.44 (CH₂), 32.37 (CH₂), 31.70 (CH₂), 28.88 (CH₂), 25.98 (CH₂), 25.46 (CH₂), 21.46 (CH₃); m/z (ESI) 714.3 (M⁺+1).

(R,R)-3C-Tethered Ruthenium Monomer with Triazole Linker

This compound was prepared as for general procedure 7 using N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-(4-(3-benzyl-3H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)butoxy)phenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (36 mg, 0.05 mmol), ethylbenzoate ruthenium(II)chloride dimer (16 mg, 0.025 mmol), DCM (1.3 cm³) and chlorobenzene (3.3 cm³). After 5 hours mass spectrometry analysis showed the desired monomer 3:1 two isomers (m/z 814.2 [M⁺+H−Cl]). Due to the small scale of the reaction, the product was not isolated. The reaction was carried out as proof of concept for aryl substitution with this ligand structure prior to preparing the polymer supported derivatives.

Azido Opened Polymer.

This compound is known in the literature and has previously been fully characterised. To poly(glycidyl methacrylate) Mn˜20,000 (568 mg, 4 mmol epoxide) was added NaN₃ (780 mg, 12 mmol) and NH₄Cl (636 mg, 12 mmol). To this was then added anhydrous DMF (40 cm³). The reaction was stirred at 50° C. for 24 hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and water was added until a white precipitate formed. The precipitate was collected by filtration and dried to give the product as a white solid (565 mg, 3.3 mmol repeat units, 83%). Mp 250° C. (decomposed); υ_(max) 3427, 2987, 2096, 1720, 1251, 1149, 1089, 747 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (300 MHz, THF) 4.71 (1H, br s, OH), 3.87-3.84 (3H, m, COOCH₂ and CH overlapping), 3.25 (2H, br s, CH₂N₃), 1.86-1.78 (2H, m, CH₂CCH₃), 0.99-0.83 (3H, m, CH₂CCH₃); δ_(C) (75 MHz, THF) 176.71 (C═O), 68.29 (CH), 66.11 (CH₂), 53.79 (CH₂), 44.71 (CH₂), 16.78 (CH₃). Ref: N. V. Tsarevsky, S. A. Bencherif and K. Matyjaszewski, Macromolecules 2007, 40, 4439-4445.

Ligand Functionalised Polymer.

To a nitrogen purged flask was added the azido opened polymer (45 mg, 0.20 mmol N₃) and N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-(hex-5-ynyloxy)phenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (113 mg, 0.20 mmol). To this was then added Cu(OAc)₂ (7 mg, 0.04 mmol) and sodium-(L)-ascorbate 16 mg, 0.08 mmol followed by degassed THF/water 1/1 (5 cm³). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 48 hours. A blue precipitate formed and was collected by filtration. This was washed with ammonium hydroxide (aq.) and dried to give the product as a blue/green insoluble gel (147 mg, 0.19 mmol clicked ligand). υ_(max) 3375, 2987, 2901, 2103 (weak N₃ signal), 1726, 1241, 1152, 1077, 1056, 810, 698, 665, 548 cm⁻¹.

Polymer Supported (R,R)-3C-Tethered Ru Complex (A).

To a nitrogen purged flask was added the ligand functionalised polymer described above (100 mg, 0.13 mmol ligand) was added the ethylbenzoate ruthenium(II)chloride dimer (42 mg, 0.065 mmol). To this was then added anhydrous DCM (3.4 cm³) and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 30 min. The DCM was removed under reduced pressure and was replaced with chlorobenzene (8.6 cm³) and the reaction was stirred at 90° C. for 5 hours. The chlorobenzene was removed under vacuum to leave the product as a red/brown insoluble solid. This was washed with further DCM to remove unreacted ethylbenzoate ruthenium(II)chloride dimer to give the product (97 mg, 0.11 mmol Ru catalyst, 85%). MP 234° C. (decomposed); υ_(max) 3406, 2931, 1720, 1510, 1445, 1269, 1156, 1106, 1049, 810, 744, 699 cm⁻¹;

1:9 Ligand:Hexyne Functionalised Polymer.

To a nitrogen purged flask was added the azido opened polymer (97 mg, 0.50 mmol N₃) and N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-(hex-5-ynyloxy)phenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (29 mg, 0.05 mmol) and hexyne (37 mg, 0.45 mmol). To this was then added Cu(OAc)₂ (18 mg, 0.1 mmol) and sodium-(L)-ascorbate (40 mg, 0.2 mmol) and THF/water 4/1 (10 cm³). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 48 hours. After this the product had separated from solution as a blue/green jelly. This was removed, washed with ammonium hydroxide (aq.) (35%) and dried to give the product as an insoluble blue gel (103 mg, 0.035 mmol ligand/0.32 mmol clicked hexyne, 70%). υ_(max) 3265, 2954, 2931, 2871, 1728, 1453, 1149, 1058, 809, 701, 665, 549 cm⁻¹.

1:9 (R,R)-3C-Tethered Ru Complex:Hexyne Functionalised Polymer (B).

To a nitrogen purged flask was added 1:9 ligand:hexyne functionalised polymer described above (100 mg, 0.034 mmol ligand) was added ethylbenzoate ruthenium(II)chloride dimer (11 mg, 0.017 mmol) and anhydrous DCM (0.9 cm³). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 30 min before the DCM was removed under reduced pressure. Chlorobenzene (2.2 cm³) was added and the reaction stirred at 90° C. for 5 hours. After this the reaction was cooled to room temperature, filtered and the solid dried to give the product as a red/brown solid. This was washed with further DCM to remove unreacted ethylbenzoate ruthenium(II)chloride dimer to give the product (70 mg, 0.021 mmol Ru catalyst, 62%). υ_(max) 3230, 3079, 2930, 1722, 1443, 1396, 1367, 1288, 1268, 1149, 1105, 1054, 771, 746, 700, 665 cm⁻¹.

3:7 Ligand:Hexyne Functionalised Polymer.

To a nitrogen purged flask was added the azido opened polymer (93 mg, 0.5 mmol N₃) and N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-(hex-5-ynyloxy)phenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (87 mg, 0.15 mmol) and hexyne (29 mg, 0.35 mmol). To this was then added Cu(OAc)₂ (18 mg, 0.1 mmol) and sodium-(L)-ascorbate (40 mg, 0.2 mmol) and THF/water 4/1 (10 cm³). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 48 hours. After this the product had separated from solution as a blue/green jelly. This was removed, washed with ammonium hydroxide (aq.) (35%) and dried to give the product as an insoluble blue gel (180 mg, 0.13 mmol ligand/0.30 mmol clicked hexyne, 87%). υ_(max) 3272, 2930, 2869, 1727, 1454, 1242, 1152, 1055, 810, 699, 665, 548 cm⁻¹.

3:7 (R,R)-3C-Tethered Ru Complex:Hexyne Functionalised Polymer (C).

This compound was prepared using 3:7 ligand:hexyne functionalised polymer described above (180 mg, 0.13 mmol ligand), ethylbenzoate ruthenium(II)chloride dimer (42 mg, 0.065 mmol), anhydrous DCM (1.2 cm³) and chlorobenzene (2.8 cm³) to give the product (189 mg, 0.12 mmol Ru catalyst, 92%). υ_(max) 3687, 3674, 2972, 2901, 1723, 1394, 1251, 1056, 861, 679, 565 cm⁻¹.

10% Azido Opened poly(glycidyl methacrylate).

To a nitrogen purged flask was added poly(glycidyl methacrylate) Mn 20,000 (568 mg, 4 mmol epoxide) was added NaN₃ (26 mg, 0.4 mmol) and NH₄Cl (21 mg, 0.4 mmol). To this was then added anhydrous DMF (40 cm³). The reaction was stirred at 50° C. overnight. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and DMF removed under vacuum. The residue was then washed with water and dried to leave a viscous, sparingly soluble colourless gel (330 mg, 0.23 mmol N₃/2.0 mmol epoxide, 58%). υ_(max) 3435 (weak), 2932, 2102 (weak), 1728 (weak), 1665, 1386, 1255, 1148, 1091, 658 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (400 MHz, THF) 4.61 (0.1H, br s, OH), 4.17 (0.9H, br s, COOCH^(a)H^(b)), 3.89-3.84 (0.3H, m, COOCH₂ and CHOH overlapping), 3.70 (0.9H, br s, COOCH^(a)H^(b)), 3.24 (0.2H, br s, CH₂N₃), 3.10 (0.9H, br s, COOCH₂CH), 2.66 (0.9H, br s, CH^(a)H^(b)O in epoxide), 2.51 (0.9H, br s, CH^(a)H^(b)O in epoxide), 1.91-1.81 (2H, CH₂CCH₃), 1.00-0.84 (3H, m, CH₃); δ_(C) (100 MHz, DMSO) quaternary carbon CC═O not observed 162.28 (1C, s), 143.17 (1C, s), 65.70 (1C, s), 65.45 (1C, s), 48.57 (1C, s), 48.49 (1C, s), 43.79 (1C, s), 39.96 (1C, s), 35.75 (1C, s), 30.67 (1C, s).

1:9 Azido:Diethylamine Functionalised poly(glycidyl methacrylate).

To a nitrogen purged flask connected to a condenser was added 10% azide opened poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (230 mg, 1.44 mmol epoxide/0.16 mmol N₃) was added DMSO (2.5 cm³) and diethylamine (124 mg, 1.7 mmol). The reaction was stirred at 60° C. overnight. After this the reaction was cooled to room temperature and the DMSO removed under vacuum with gentle heating to leave the product as a straw coloured, insoluble, viscous gel (280 mg, 0.15 mmol N₃/1.4 mmol diethylamine, 97%). υ_(max) 3386, 2965, 2931, 2101, 1724, 1438, 1385, 1269, 1152, 1020, 952 cm⁻¹. For procedure see reference 164.

1:9 Ligand:Diethylamine Functionalised Polymer.

To a nitrogen purged flask was added 1:9 azide:diethylamine opened poly(glycidyl methacrylate) described above (280 mg, 0.15 mmol N₃/1.4 mmol diethylamine) and N-((1R,2R)-2-(3-(4-(hex-5-ynyloxy)phenyl)propylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (87 mg, 0.15 mmol). To this was then added Cu(OAc)₂ (5.5 mg, 0.03 mmol) and sodium-(L)-ascorbate (12 mg, 0.06 mmol) followed by THF/water 4/1 (3 cm³). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 48 hours. The reaction was filtered and the solid was washed with ammonium hydroxide (aq.) (35%) and dried to leave a blue/green insoluble solid (250 mg, 0.09 mmol clicked ligand/0.81 mmol diethylamine, 75%). υ_(max) 3344, 2968, 2936, 1726, 1453, 1386, 1374, 1241, 1151, 1060, 811, 700 cm⁻¹.

1:9 (R,R)-3C-Tethered Ru Complex:Diethylamine Functionalised Polymer (D).

This compound was prepared as for 256 using 1:9 ligand:diethylamine functionalised polymer described above (250 mg, 0.09 mmol clicked ligand), ethylbenzoate ruthenium(II)chloride dimer 197 (29 mg, 0.045 mmol), anhydrous DCM (0.8 cm³) and chlorobenzene (2 cm³) to give the product (141 mg, 0.05 mmol Ru/0.45 mmol diethylamine, 56%). υ_(max) 3374, 2967, 1724, 1665, 1453, 1386, 1266, 1151, 1084, 997, 746, 700 cm⁻¹

Microwave Reactions:

4-OMe complex formation in chlorobenzene using Microwave SRC 1304(1):

A solution of ligand C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₃S (50 mg, 1.0 eq) and [Ru(C₉H₁₀O₂)Cl₂]₂ (31.6 mg, 0.5 eq) in chlorobenzene (3 mL) was placed in glass tube, sealed and irradiated with microwave radiation under the following conditions. The reaction mixture was analysed by ESI-MS and TLC after each run. ESI-MS complied for required complex formation with [M-Cl]⁺ peak at 615.0.

1st run: Power=40 W, Temp=90° C., RAMP=1 min, Hold=10 min. Product visible by TLC on silica gel and by ESI-MS, shown in FIG. 4.

2nd run: Power=40 W, Temp=90° C., RAMP=1 min, Hold=10 min. Product visible by TLC on silica gel and ESI MS but with signs of decomposition is shown in FIG. 5.

4-OMe complex formation using Microwave (intermediate preformed in DCM) SRC 1304(2):

A solution of ligand C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₃S (50 mg, 1.0 eq) and [Ru(C₉H₁₀O₂)Cl₂]₂ (31.6 mg, 0.5 eq) in DCM (3 mL) was stirred at room temperature under an inert atmosphere for 30 min. The mixture was concentrated on a rotavapor to give orange residue. The residue was dissolved in chlorobenzene (3 mL), transferred to a glass tube, sealed and irradiated with microwave radiation under the following conditions. ESI-MS complied for required complex formation with [M-Cl]⁺ peak at 615.0 with formation of undesired bidentate complex with [M-Cl]⁺ peak at 764.1. Both desired and undesired complexes were visible by TLC on silica gel.

Power=40 W, Temp=90° C., RAMP=1 min, Hold=10 min is shown in FIG. 6.

4-OMe complex formation in DCM using Microwave SRC 1305(1):

A solution of ligand C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₃S (50 mg, 1.0 eq) and [Ru(C₉H₁₀O₂)Cl₂]₂ (31.6 mg, 0.5 eq) in DCM (3 mL) was placed in glass tube, sealed and irradiated with microwave radiation under the following conditions. The reaction mixture was analysed by ESI-MS and TLC after each run. ESI-MS indicated formation of the undesired bidentate complex formation with [M-Cl]⁺ peak at 765.1. 1st run: Power=40 W, Temp=50° C., RAMP=2 min, Hold=10 min, Pressure=60 psi is shown in FIG. 7.

2nd run: Power=40 W, Temp=50° C., RAMP=2 min, Hold=10 min, Pressure=60 psi.

3rd run: Power=80 W, Temp=75° C., RAMP=2 min, Hold=10 min, Pressure=100 psi is shown in FIG. 8.

4-OMe complex formation in DCE using Microwave SRC 1305(2):

A solution of ligand C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₃S (50 mg, 1.0 eq) and [Ru(C₉H₁₀O₂)Cl₂]₂ (31.6 mg, 0.5 eq) in DCE (3 mL) was placed in glass tube, sealed and irradiated with microwave radiation under the following conditions. The reaction mixture was analysed by ESI-MS and TLC after each run. ESI-MS complied with undesired bidentate complex formation with [M-Cl]⁺ peak at 765.1 after 1^(st) run and there was required complex formation after 2^(nd) run with [M-Cl]⁺ peak at 614. But complex formation was not clean as observed in reaction carried out in chlorobenzene.

1st run: Power=80 W, Temp=80° C., RAMP=2 min, Hold=10 min, Pressure=60 psi is shown in FIG. 9.

2nd run: Power=80 W, Temp=100° C., RAMP=2 min, Hold=10 min, Pressure=60 psi is shown in FIG. 10.

MW Reactions on Other Ligands (F16).

Ligand (0.05 mmol) and [RuC₆H₅CO₂EtCl₂]₂ (0.025 mmol) were dissolved in chlorobenzene (1.5 ml) and the resulting solution was stirred at rt for 5 min. The mixture was heated to 90° C./130° C. (Power=100 W Pressure=60 psi) in a microwave reactor for 10 min and results were recorded by mass spectrometry.

F16 4 and 8

Ligand (24.3 mg, 0.05 mmol) and [RuC₆H₅CO₂EtCl₂]₂ (15.8 mg, 0.025 mmol) were dissolved in chlorobenzene (1.5 ml) and the resulting solution was stirred at rt for 5 min. The mixture was heated to 90° C./130° C. in microwave MW reactor for 10 min results were recorded by MS.

product formed by MS under 130° C. in MW for 10 min but did not form under 90° C. in microwave for 10 min is shown in FIG. 11.

F16 3 and 7

Ligand (28.8 mg, 0.05 mmol) and [RuC₆H₅CO₂EtCl₂]₂ (15.8 mg, 0.025 mmol) were dissolved in chlorobenzene (1.5 ml) and the resulting solution was stirred at rt for 5 min. The mixture was heated to 90° C./130° C. in microwave reactor for 10 min results were recorded by MS.

product formed by MS under 130° C. in MW for 10 min but did not form under 90° C. in microwave for 10 min is shown in FIG. 12.

F16 5

Ligand (27.2 mg, 0.05 mmol) and [RuC₆H₅CO₂EtCl₂]₂ (15.8 mg, 0.025 mmol) were dissolved in chlorobenzene (1.5 ml) and the resulting solution was stirred at rt for 5 min. The mixture was heated to 90° C./130° C. in microwave reactor for 10 min results were recorded by MS.

product formed by MS 130° C. in MW for 10 min but did not form under 90° C. in microwave for 10 min is shown in FIG. 13.

Synthesis of Ligands for the Microwave Studies Above.

N-{(1R,2R)-2-[3-(4-phenoxyphenyl)propylamino]-1,2-diphenylethyl}-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide SRC 997

To a mixture of C₁₅H₁₆O₂(0.249 g, 1.093 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 2,6-lutidine (0.167 mL, 1.434 mmol, 2.10 eq) in dry DCM (5 mL) was added a solution of triflic anhydride (0.195 mL, 1.161 mmol, 1.70 eq) into dry DCM (2.5 mL) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 60 min. The mixture was again cooled down to 0° C. To this, solution of (1R,2R)TsDPEN (0.250 g, 0.683 mmol, 1.0 eq) and TEA (0.228 mL, 1.639 mmol, 2.4 eq) in dry DCM (2.5 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C. The resulting yellow coloured mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 17 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (20 mL) and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution (3×25 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×15 mL), brine (25 mL), dried over anhy. Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (25:75) as an eluent to give residue. The residue was triturated in n-pentane (to remove traces of 2,6-lutidine) to give solid. The solid was filtered, washed with n-pentane and dried under vacuum to give pure compound as white solid (0.295 g, 0.512 mmol, 75%). Mp 54-56° C.; [α]_(D) ²⁸=−20.00 (c 0.825 in CHCl₃); v_(max) 3298, 3060, 3028, 2926, 2857, 1589, 1487, 1229, 1157, 807, 754, 696, 666 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.36 (2H, d, J 8.0, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 7.33-7.29 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.15-7.11 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.09-6.98 (9H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.96-6.89 (7H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.24 (1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.27 (1H, d, J 7.6, —CHNHTs), 3.60 (1H, d, J 7.6, —CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 2.58-2.47 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 2.45-2.40 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.34-2.37 (4H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—, —CH₃), 1.75-1.61 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.44 (1H, br s, —NH(CH₂)₃—); δc (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 155.07(C), 142.67(C), 139.23(C), 138.29(C), 137.02(C), 136.71(C), 129.63(2CH), 129.48(2CH), 129.05(2CH), 128.28(2CH), 127.90(2CH), 127.51(2CH), 127.44(CH), 127.35(2CH), 127.26(CH), 127.08(2CH), 122.90(CH), 119.00(2CH), 118.47 (2CH), 67.73(CH), 63.02(CH), 46.37(CH₂), 32.48(CH₂), 31.56(CH₂), 21.4(CH₃); m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 577.2; HRMS found 577.2515 (C₃₆H₃₆N₂O₃S H+ requires 577.2519, error=1.1 ppm).

4-Methyl-N-[(1R,2R)-2-(2-phenoxyethylamino)-1,2-diphenylethyl]benzenesulfonamide SRC 878

To a mixture of C₈H₁₀O₂ (0.151 g, 1.093 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 2,6-lutidine (0.167 mL, 1.434 mmol, 2.10 eq) in dry DCM (5 mL) was added a solution of triflic anhydride (0.195 mL, 1.161 mmol, 1.70 eq) in dry DCM (2.5 mL) dropwise at 0° C. under an inert atmosphere. The resulting light pink solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and at room temperature for 60 min. The mixture was again cooled down to 0° C. To this, solution of (1R,2R)TsDPEN (0.250 g, 0.683 mmol, 1.0 eq) and TEA (0.228 mL, 1.639 mmol, 2.4 eq) into dry DCM (2.5 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C. The resulting yellow coloured mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then at room temperature for 17 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (20 mL) and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ solution (3×25 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×15 mL), brine (25 mL), dried over anhy. Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give crude compound. The crude compound was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using EtOAc:Pet. ether (25:75) as an eluent to give a residue. The residue was triturated in n-pentane (to remove traces of 2,6-lutidine) to give a solid. The solid was filtered, washed with n-pentane and dried under vacuum to give pure compound as white solid (0.250 g, 0.514 mmol, 75%). Mp 130-132° C.; [α]_(D) ²⁸=−6.21 (c 0.515 in CHCl₃); v_(max) 3344, 3297, 3064, 3029, 2940, 1600, 1491, 1454, 1433, 1303, 1248, 1159, 807, 754, 696, 668 cm⁻¹; δ_(H) (300 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.36 (2H, d, J 8.4, —CH of —SO₂C₆H₄CH₃), 7.30-7.24 (2H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.16-7.11 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.09-7.02 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.99-6.93 (7H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.80 (2H, d, J 7.8, —CH of phenyl), 6.18(1H, br s, —NHTs), 4.28 (1H, d, J 7.3, —CHNHTs), 4.01-3.87 (2H, m, —CH₂CH₂OC₆H₅), 3.73 (1H, d, J 7.3, —CHNHCH₂—), 2.84-2.76 (1H, m, —CHHCH₂OC₆H₅), 2.69-2.62 (1H, m, —CHHCH₂OC₆H₅), 2.30 (3H, s, —CH₃), 1.79 (1H, br s, —NHCH₂—); δc (75 MHz, CDCl₃) 157.92(C), 142.06(C), 138.30(C), 137.70(C), 136.37(C), 128.84(2CH), 128.47(2CH), 127.75(2CH), 127.36(2CH), 126.95(CH), 126.87(2CH), 126.82(2CH), 126.71(CH), 126.46(2CH), 120.34(CH), 113.90(2CH), 67.00(CH), 66.38(CH₂), 62.47(CH), 45.52(CH₂), 20.80(CH₃); m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 487.1; HRMS found 487.2051 (C₂₉H₃₀N₂O₃S H+ requires 487.2050, error=−0.2 ppm).

2) Reactions with the OMe-Substituted Diene which Demonstrate that the OMe Catalyst cannot be Prepared by the Traditional Route:

3-(4-Methoxycyclohexa-1,4-dienyl)propan-1-ol

A flask and condenser set up was cooled to −78° C. with a dry ice/acetone mixture. The system was purged with nitrogen and 3-(4-methoxyphenyl-1-propanol) (1.5 g, 9.02 mmol) and anhydrous ethanol (4.5 mL) was added to the addition funnel. Ammonia gas was added at 0.2 bar, which condensed in the flask to give liquid ammonia (40 mL). The ethanolic solution of 3-(4-methoxyphenyl-1-propanol) was added dropwise with stirring with additional ethanol (0.5 mL portions) added to maintain precipitate dissipation (5 mL in total). Sodium pieces (1.50 g in total) were added, leaving time for the blue color produced to fade before adding more (additional ethanol was added when stirring ceased). Once the blue color started to persist for longer the reaction was left to slowly warm to room temperature overnight. Saturated NH₄Cl (35 mL) was slowly added to the resulting solution with great care initially in case of any unreacted sodium present. This was then extracted with DCM (4×20 mL) and the organic layers were collected, combined and dried over Na₂SO₄ then filtered and concentrated to give the product as a yellow oil as the pure product (1.562 g, 9.29 mmol, 102%); v_(max) 3361 (OH stretch), 2936, 1665, 1389, 1214, 1171, 1011; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 5.42 (1H, s, CH═COCH₃), 4.63 (1H, s, C═CHCH₂), 3.67-3.63 (2H, m, CH₂OH), 3.55 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.73 (4H, br s, CH₂C═C and CH₂C═C(CH₂)₃), 2.08 (2H, t, J 8.0, CH₂(CH₂)₂OH), 1.74-1.67 (2H, m, CH₂CH₂OH), 1.50 (1H, br s, OH); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 152.98(C), 134.94(C), 117.67(CH), 90.39(CH), 62.69(CH₂), 53.85(OCH₃), 32.91(CH₂), 30.54(CH₂), 29.26(CH₂), 29.08(CH₂); m/z ESI-MS [M+Na]⁺ 191.1; HRMS found 191.041 (C₁₀H₁₆O₂ Na+ requires 191.1043, error=−0.8 ppm). E. N. Marvell, D. Sturmer and C. Rowell, Tetrahedron 1966, 22, 861-866; H.-S. Liu and Y. Han, Chem. Commun. 1991, 1484-1485.

N-{2-[3-(4-Methoxycyclohexa-1,4-dienyl)propylamino]-1,2-diphenylethyl}-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide

A mixture of 3-(4-methoxycyclohexa-1,4-dienyl)propan-1-ol (0.184 g, 1.093 mmol) and 2,6-lutidine (0.167 mL, 1.434 mmol) in dry DCM (5 mL) under nitrogen was cooled to 0° C. To this was added a mixture of triflic anhydride (0.195 mL, 1.161 mmol) and dry DCM (1.25 mL) dropwise over 5 minutes. The resulting solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 minutes and then room temperature for 60 minutes. The reaction mixture was again cooled to 0° C. and a solution of (1R,2R)-TsDPEN (0.25 g, 0.683 mmol) and TEA (0.228 mL, 1.639 mmol) in dry DCM (1.25 mL) was added slowly. The resulting solution was stirred at 0° C. for 30 minutes then at room temperature for 18 hours. This was diluted with DCM (7 5 mL) and washed with NaHCO₃ (3×15 mL), water (2×7.5 mL) and brine solution (15 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give the crude product. This was purified by column filtration to give pure product (70.5 mg, 0.137 mmol, 20.0%). Mp 88-90° C.; [α]_(D) ²⁹=−56.0 (c 0.25 in CHCl₃); v_(max) 3302, 2930, 1164, 1215, 1159, 807, 701; δ_(H) (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.36 (2H, d, J 8.4, —CH of phenyl), 7.13-7.12 (3H, m, —CH of phenyl), 7.06-7.01 (5H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.95-6.89 (4H, m, —CH of phenyl), 6.28 (1H, br s, N—H), 5.25 (1H, br s, CH═C), 4.60 (1H, br s, CH═C), 4.24 (1H, d, J 7.8, —CHNHTs), 3.59 (1H, d, J 7.8, CHNH(CH₂)₃—), 3.54 (3H, s, —OCH₃), 2.66 (4H, br s, CH₂C═C and CH₂C═C(CH₂)₃), 2.41-2.35 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 2.33 (3H, s, —CH₃), 2.29-2.23 (1H, m, —NH—CHHCH₂CH₂—), 1.95-1.86 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), 1.56-1.43 (2H, m, —NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂—); δ_(C) (100 MHz, CDCl₃) 152.95(C), 142.62(C), 139.30(C). 138.34(C), 137.03(C), 134.71(C), 129.03(2CH), 128.24(2CH), 127.87(2CH), 127.50(2CH), 127.39(CH), 127.33(2CH), 127.22(CH), 127.07(2CH), 117.66(CH), 90.36(CH), 67.76(CH), 63.02(CH), 53.85(OCH₃), 46.60(CH₂), 34.02(CH₂), 29.14(CH₂), 29.06(CH₂), 27.76(CH₂), 21.39(CH₃); m/z ESI-MS [M+H]⁺ 517.1; HRMS found 517.2519 (C₃₁H₃₆N₂O₃S H+ requires 517.2519, error=−0.2 ppm). Tosylation of 3-(4-methoxycyclohexa-1,4-dienyl)propan-1-ol was described in H.-S. Liu and Y. Han, Chem. Commun. 1991, 1484-1485.

Attempted Synthesis of {N-[(1R,2R)-2-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propylammonium chloride]-1,2-diphenylethyl]-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide}ruthenium chloride dimer 4 using N-{2-[3-(4-Methoxycyclohexa-1,4-dienyl)propylamino]-1,2-diphenylethyl}-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide

SRC 936, 26 Jul. 2012. N-{2-[3-(4-Methoxycyclohexa-1,4-dienyl)propylamino]-1,2-diphenylethyl}-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (0.250 g, 0.484 mmol) in dry DCM (5 mL) under an inert atmosphere was cooled to 0° C. To this, HCl (2M in Et₂O, 0.726 mL) was added and stirred for 30 min. The mixture was concentrated on a rotavapor to give a white solid. The solid was dissolved in anhydrous EtOH (10 mL) under an inert atmosphere. To this, RuCl₃. xH₂O (0.101 g, 0.387 mmol, 0.8 eq) was added and the resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered to give a black solid (20 mg; mostly decomposed ruthenium chloride). The filtrate was concentrated to give a green residue (0.2 g). The ¹H-NMR of residue was complex with no evidence of the required product. ESI-MS complied with aromatised starting compound is shown in FIG. 14.

SRC 1209, 11 Jun. 2013. A solution of HCl salt of ligand (0.250 g, 1.3 eq) and RuCl₃. xH₂O (1.0 eq) in methanol was refluxed at 65° C. for 16 h to give a reddish orange mixture (methanol was used instead of ethanol). No solid separated out. The solvent was evaporated on a rotavapor and solid residue (0.379 g, crude) was analysed by 1H-NMR and ESI-MS. ESI-MS complied with aromatised starting compound is shown in FIG. 15.

SRC 1219a, 19 Jun. 2013. A solution of HCl salt of ligand (0.150 g, 1.0 eq) and RuCl₃. xH₂O (15 mg, 0.2 eq) in methanol was refluxed at 65° C. for 16 h to give an orange mixture. No solid separated out. The solvent was evaporated on a rotavapor and solid residue (0.174 g) was analysed by 1H-NMR and ESI-MS. ESI-MS complied with aromatised starting compound is shown in FIG. 16.

SRC 1219b, 19 Jun. 2013. A solution of ligand (0.150 g, 1.0 eq) and RuCl₃. xH₂O (15 mg, 0.2 eq) in methanol was refluxed at 65° C. for 16 h to give a dark brown mixture. No solid separated out. The solvent was evaporated on a rotavapor and the solid residue (0.160 g) was analysed by 1H-NMR and ESI-MS. ESI-MS complied with starting compound and methanol adduct (possibly an acetal) but it did not aromatise. (note these conditions should not promote complexation) is shown in FIG. 17.

1268, 29 Aug. 2013. Salt not formed. 1.0 eq ligand and 0.8 eq. RuCL3.xH2O combined in methanol at reflux however this led to aromatisation and no product was observed. This suggests that the RuCl₃ causes aromatisation. See FIG. 18.

1271, 2 Sep. 2013. A solution of HCl salt of ligand (0.100 g) was refluxed in methanol for 16 h. Aromatisation of starting ligand was observed by ESI-MS analysis this is show in FIG. 19.

1305(3), 3 Oct. 2013. A solution of HCl salt of ligand (50 mg, 1.3 eq) and RuCl₃. xH₂O (1.0 eq) in methanol (3 mL) was irradiated with microwave radiation under following conditions. Power=80 W, Temperature=70° C., RAMP=2 min, Hold=20 min, Pressure=60 psi. The reaction mixture was analysed by ESI-MS analysis. ESI-MS complied with aromatised starting compound is shown in FIG. 20.

1321(2), 29 Oct. 2013. A solution of ligand (50 mg, 1.3 eq) and RuCl₃. xH₂O (1.0 eq) in methanol (3 mL) was irradiated with microwave radiation under following conditions. Power=80 W, Temperature=65° C., RAMP=2 min, Hold=20 min, Pressure=60 psi. The reaction mixture was analysed by ESI-MS analysis. ESI-MS complied with starting compound and methanol adduct of it is shown in FIG. 21.

Stability Tests on the Non-OMe Substituted Ligand Indicated that it was More Stable:

F10-1: Ligand (below) (48 mg, 0.1 mmol) was dissolved in EtOH (5 ml), the resulting solution was refluxing under N₂ atmosphere for 24 h and the results were tested by ¹H NMR.

This compound is stable under refluxing in EtOH for 24 h.

F10-2: Ligand (below) (48 mg, 0.1 mmol) was dissolved in EtOH (5 ml) and HCl/Et₂O (0.5 ml, 1M solution) was added dropwise. Excess HCl was removed under reduced pressure and the ligand salt was dissolved in EtOH (5 ml) and refluxed under N₂ atmosphere for 24 h and the results were tested by ¹H NMR.

This compound is stable under refluxing in EtOH for 24 h.

F10-3: Ligand (below) (48 mg, 0.1 mmol) was dissolved in EtOH (5 ml) and HCl/Et₂O (0.5 ml, 1M solution) was added dropwise. Excess HCl was removed under reduced pressure and the ligand salt was dissolved in EtOH (5 ml) and RuCl₃XH₂O (28 mg, 0.1 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was refluxed under N₂ atmosphere for 24 h and the results were tested by ¹H NMR.

This compound formed dimer with RuCl₃XH₂O in EtOH refluxing for 24 h.

Reaction of OMecyclohexadiene Needs Large Excess of Diene:

Methoxybenzene Ruthenium(II)chloride Dimer (203).

This result reflects the large excess of OMe-containing ligand that is required for formation of an electron-rich arene Ru(II) complex. No product was formed at lower loadings of diene; using 1.2 equivalents of diene, no dimer product was formed.

To a nitrogen purged flask was added RuCl.3H₂O (261 mg, 1 mmol) and MeOH (13.5 cm³). To this was then added 1-methyl-1,4-cyclohexadiene (1.22 g, 11 mmol) and the reaction was stirred at reflux for 6 hours. The reaction solution was cooled to room temperature and filtered to give a black solid (138 mg, 0.25 mmol, 50%). δ_(H) (400 MHz, d₆-DMSO) 6.21 (2H, t, J, 6 Hz, CHAr—Ru), 5.59 (2H, d, J, 6.0 Hz, CHAr—Ru), 5.42 (1H, t J, 6.0 Hz, CHAr—Ru), 3.97 (3H, s, CH₃); δ_(C) (100 MHz, DCMSO) 140.43 (2 CAr—Ru), 94.10 (4 CHAr—Ru), 74.39 (2 CHAr—Ru), 65.19 (4 CHAr—Ru), 57.20 (2 CH₃).

Hexamethylbenzene cannot be reduced by the Birch reduction, which indicates that highly electron-rich aromatic rings may be unsuitable starting materials for the synthesis of tethered complexes (lit—M. A. Bennett, T.-N. Huang T. W. Matheson and A K. Smith, Inorganic Syntheses 1982, XXI, 74-78.

Unless otherwise stated each of the integers described in the invention may be used in combination with any other integer as would be understood by the person skilled in the art. Further, although all aspects of the invention preferably “comprise” the features described in relation to that aspect, it is specifically envisaged that they may “consist” or “consist essentially” of those features outlined in the claims. In addition, all terms, unless specifically defined herein, are intended to be given their commonly understood meaning in the art.

Further, in the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the smaller and greater of the alternatives, is itself also disclosed as a possible value for the parameter.

In addition, unless otherwise stated, all numerical values appearing in this application are to be understood as being modified by the term “about”.

TABLE 1a Batch Conv. E.e.^(a) Ketone number Catalyst Time (%) (%)

1 SRC946     SRC958 4-Meth- oxy   3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h 1.5 h   2 h   1 h   2 h   3 h   4 h 83.3 92.7 99.8 24 79.3 97.9 99.9 96.7(R) 96.8(R) 96(R) 89.7(R) 89.2(R) 89.7(R) 88.8(R)

2 SRC947   SRC960 4-Meth- oxy 3,5- Dimeth- oxy 1.5 h 3.5 h   1 h   3 h   5 h 59.6 99.9 16.6 88.0 99.8 96(R) 96.8(R) 88.9(R) 87.9(R) 88(R)

3 SRC948(1)   SRC972 4-Meth- oxy 3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h 1.5 h   5 h   8 h  23 h  31 h 98.6 99.9 21.3 49.5 97.3 98.9 95.7(R) 95.5(R) 75.1(R) 73.3(R) 69.5(R) 68.5(R)

4 SRC956   SRC973 4-Meth- oxy 3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h   2 h   1 h   2 h   3 h 64.2 >99 23.5 84.4 99.5 98.1(R) 98^(c)(R) 95.0(R) 95.7(R) 95.7(R)

5 SRC950   SRC963 4-Meth- oxy 3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h   2 h   1 h   2 h 99.1 99.8 >99 99.9 95(S) 97.8(S) 95.5(5) 95(S)

6 SRC949   SRC962 4-Meth- oxy 3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h     1 h   2 h >99   88.3 >99 95^(c)(S)   94.1(S) 93.9(S)

7 SRC954   SRC967 4-Meth- oxy 3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h     1 h   2 h 99.8   83.4 >99 97.8(R)   92.2(R) 92.8(R)

8 SRC970     SRC969 4-Meth- oxy   3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h   2 h   3 h   1 h   3 h   6 h   8 h  23 h  31 h 48.6 99.3 99.9 1.7 31.0 62.2 63.9 89.5 96.4 98.9(R) 99.1(R) 99(R) 25.4(R) 17.8(R) 21.6(R) 21.3(R) 20.3(R) 20.6(R)

9 SRC953   SRC966 4-Meth- oxy 3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h   2 h   1 h   2 h   3 h   4 h 78.6 99.9 27.3 85.8 99.4 99.9 94.8(R) 95^(c)(R) 89.3(R) 82.5(R) 79.6(R) 81.2(R) 86.9^(c)(R)

10 SRC952   SRC965 4-Meth- oxy 3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h   3 h   1 h   2 h   3 h 42.6 99.9 77.0 99.7 99.9   99^(b)(R)     99^(b)(R)

11 SRC957(1)         SRC964 4-Meth- oxy       3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h   2 h   3 h   4 h   5 h   1 h   2 h   3 h   4 h   5 h 20.5 67.0 91.8 98.4 99.5 22.6 64.3 91.0 99.1 99.8         99(R)         99(R)

12 SRC971     SRC968 4-Meth- oxy   3,5- Dimeth- oxy 0.5 h   1 h 1.5 h   1 h   2 h 37.3 98.1 99.3 78.2 99.9 89.8(R) 89.0(R) 88.9(R) 70.6(R) 66.5(R)

13 SRC980     SRC981 4-Meth- oxy   3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h   2 h   3 h   7 h 41.3 93.1 99.8 99.8 >99(R) >99(R) >99(R)   96.1(R)

14 SRC974     SRC975 4-Meth- oxy   3,5- Dimeth- oxy   2 h   4 h   5 h   2 h   4 h   5 h   6 h 75.9 99.2 99.7 57.4 95.9 99.2 99.9     37.4^(d)(S)       73.4^(d)(S)

15 SRC 986     SRC 987 4-Meth- oxy   3,5- Dimeth- oxy   1 h   2 h   4 h   1 h   2 h 92.3 98.6 99.5 95.2 99.3 35(S) 45.7(S) 50(S) 75.3(S) 75.6(S) ^(a)represents %Conv and % ee were calculated by chiral GC analysis; ^(b)represents % ee was calculated by chiral HPLC analysis; ^(c)indicates that for this compound % ee was given for the chiral GC analysis carried out after final work up of the reaction; ^(d)represents % ee was calculated for acetate derivative.

TABLE 1b Catalyst Ketone Time Conv. (%) E.e. (%)

 

 4.5 h                  22 h   >99%                 >99% 97.4%                 41% (R)               (R)

 

  8 h               21.5 h   99.1%                   99% 91.2%                 74% (R)               (R)

 

  22 h                 20 h   99.9%                   99% 97.4%                 31% (R)               (R)

 

  94 h                 44 h   54.8%                 29.7% 87.4%                 4% (R) (S)

 

  23 h                 44 h   99.9%                   99% 96.1%                 60% (R)               (R)

TABLE 2a Temp. Pressure Conv E.e. Catalyst S/C solvent (° C.) (bar) Time (%) (%) Ref. Substrate

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 16 99.8 96.7 (R) Adv Synth & Catal, 2012, Wills*

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 16 99.9 94.0 (R)

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 16 99.8 83.5

**‘Application of Tethered Ruthenium Catalysts to Asymmetric Hydrogenation of ketones, and the Selective Hydrogenation of Aldehydes’, Katherine E. Jolley, Antonio Zanotti-Gerosa Fred Hancock, Alan Dyke, Damian M. Grainger, Jonathan A. Medlock, Hans G. Nedden, Jacques J. M. Le Paih, Stephen J. Roseblade, A. Seger, V. Sivakumar, David J Morris and Martin Wills, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2012, 354, 2545-2555.

TABLE 2b Temp. Pressure Conv E.e. Catalyst S/C solvent (° C.) (bar) Time (%) (%) Ref. Substrate

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 24 99.9 99.0 (R) Adv Synth & Catal, 2012, Wills*

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 24 97.6 99.6 (R)

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 24 99.9 98.8 (R)

*‘Application of Tethered Ruthenium Catalysts to Asymmetric Hydrogenation of ketones, and the Selective Hydrogenation of Aldehydes’, Katherine E. Jolley, Antonio Zanotti-Gerosa Fred Hancock, Alan Dyke, Damian M. Grainger, Jonathan A. Medlock, Hans G. Nedden, Jacques J. M. Le Paih, Stephen J. Roseblade, A. Seger, V. Sivakumar, David J Morris and Martin Wills, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2012, 354, 2545-2555.

TABLE 2c Temp. Pressure Conv Ee Catalyst S/C solvent (° C.) (bar) Time (%) (%) Ref. Substrate

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 48 99.5 97.5 (R) Adv Synth & Catal, 2012, Wills*

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 48 91.9 97.7 (R)

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 48 71.7 95.2 (R)

*‘Application of Tethered Ruthenium Catalysts to Asymmetric Hydrogenation of ketones, and the Selective Hydrogenation of Aldehydes’, Katherine E. Jolley, Antonio Zanotti-Gerosa Fred Hancock, Alan Dyke, Damian M. Grainger, Jonathan A. Medlock, Hans G. Nedden, Jacques J. M. Le Paih, Stephen J. Roseblade, A. Seger, V. Sivakumar, David J Morris and Martin Wills, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2012, 354, 2545-2555.

TABLE 2d Temp. Pressure Conv E.e. Catalyst S/C solvent (° C.) (bar) Time (%) (%) Ref. Substrate

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 48 99.9 99.3 (R) Adv Synth & Catal, 2012, Wills*

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 48 99.5 98.6 (R)

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 48 59.7 98.6 (R)

* ‘Application of Tethered Ruthenium Catalysts to Asymmetric Hydrogenation of ketones, and the Selective Hydrogenation of Aldehydes’, Katherine E. Jolley, Antonio Zanotti-Gerosa Fred Hancock, Alan Dyke, Damian M. Grainger, Jonathan A. Medlock, Hans G. Nedden, Jacques J. M. Le Paih, Stephen J. Roseblade, A. Seger, V. Sivakumar, David J Morris and Martin Wills, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2012, 354, 2545-2555.

TABLE 2e Temp. Pressure Conv E.e. Catalyst S/C solvent (° C.) (bar) Time (%) (%) Ref. Substrate

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 24 >99 >99 (S) Adv Synth & Catal, 2012, Wills*

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 24 99.7 90.7 (S)

500/1 MeOH [S] 0.5M 60 30 24 94.2 87.8 (S)

*‘Application of Tethered Ruthenium Catalysts to Asymmetric Hydrogenation of ketones, and the Selective Hydrogenation of Aldehydes’, Katherine E. Jolley, Antonio Zanotti-Gerosa Fred Hancock, Alan Dyke, Damian M. Grainger, Jonathan A. Medlock, Hans G. Nedden, Jacques J. M. Le Paih, Stephen J. Roseblade, A. Seger, V. Sivakumar, David J Morris and Martin Wills, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2012, 354, 2545-2555.

TABLE 3a MeOH solvent with [S] 0.5M, 60° C., S/C 500/1, 30 bar H₂

Catalyst Time Conv. E.e. Ketone (hr.) (%) (%)

16 99.8   96.7 (R)

48 >99.9   66.8 (S)

16 99.3   91.1 (R)

16 >99.9   88.2 (R)

24 >99   70.0 (R)

16 98.3   90.4 (R)

48 73.7   68.8 (R)

24 99.9   84.4 (S)

24 >99   >99 (S)

48 99.5   97.5 (R)

48 99.9   99.3 (R)

24 99.9   99.0 (R)

TABLE 3b MeOH solvent with [S] 0.5M, 60° C., S/C 500/1, 30 bar H₂

Time Conv. E.e. Time Conv. E.e. Ketone (hr.) (%) (%) (hr.) (%) (%)

16 99.9 94.0 (R) 16 99.8 83.5 (R)

48 99.3 37.1 (S) 48 54.6 80.3 (S)

16 99.9 93.9 (R) 16 99.9 79.5 (R)

16 99.4 92.1 (R) 16 99.2 73.5 (R)

24 >99.0 82.0 (R) 24 >99.9 53.6 (R)

16 69.6 84.3 (R) 16 18.8 72.8 (R)

48 36.4 83.3 (R) 48 26.8 77.6 (R)

24 >99.0 94.5 (S) 24 99.9 80.7 (S)

24 99.7 90.7 (S) 24 94.2 87.8 (S)

48 91.9 97.7 (R) 48 71.7 95.2 (R)

48 99.5 98.6 (R) 48 59.7 98.6 (R)

24 97.6 99.6 (S) 24 99.9 98.8 (S)

TABLE 4 % Catalyst Ketone Time Conv % ee

 

 4.5 h                 22 h   >99%                 >99% 97.4%(R)                 41%(R)

 

  8 h               21.5 h   99.1%                   99% 91.2%(R)                 74%(R)

 

  22 h                 20 h   99.9%                   99% 97.4%(R)                 31%(R)

 

  94 h                 44 h   54.8%                 29.7% 87.4%(R)                 4%(S)

 

  23 h                 44 h   99.9%                   99% 96.1%(R)                 60%(R)

  7 h   99.8% 96.6%(R)

  22 h   99.8% 96.4%(R)

  4 h >99.8% 96.5%(R)

24.5 h    100% n/a

TABLE 5

% reaction no Catalyst S/C Solvent Temp Time Conv % ee SRC 1177 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h 77 98(R)   2 h >99 97(R) SRC 1197 4-Methoxy 500 H₂O 60° C.   1 h 12 96(R)   3 h 20 96(R)   7 h 24 96(R)   22 h 26 96(R) SRC 1193 3,5-dimethoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   2 h >99 77(R) SRC 1195 3,5-dimethoxy 500 H₂O 60° C.   1 h 35 86(R)   3 h 82 82(R)   5 h 99 81(R) SRC 1177 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 40° C.   1 h 32 98(R)   2 h 53 98(R)   4 h 84 98(R)   5 h 97 98(R) SRC 1309 TEG 4-OMe 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h 99 97(R) SRC 1198b 4-Methoxy 500 H₂O:MeOH 60° C.   1 h 35 97(R) (1:1)   2 h 58 97(R)   4 h 81 97(R) SRC 1200b 4-Methoxy 500 H₂O:MeOH 60° C.   1 h 35 97(R) (1:1)   3 h 74 97(R)   4 h 88 97(R)   5 h 98 97(R)   6 h 99 97(R) SRC 1198c 3,5-dimethoxy 500 H₂O:MeOH 60° C.   1 h 96 85(R) (1:1)  1.5 h 99 85(R) SRC 1224b TEG 4-OMe 100 H₂O:MeOH 60° C.   1 h 95 97(R)   2 h 99 97(R) SRC 1225a TEG 4-OMe 500 H₂O:MeOH 60° C.   3 h 33 97(R) (1:1) 25.5 h 88 96(R) SRC 1201b 3,5-dimethoxy 500 H₂O:MeOH 60° C.   1 h 67 86(R) (1:0.5)   2 h 99 86(R) SRC 1201a 3C-teth 500 H₂O:MeOH 60° C.   2 h 4 92(S) (1:0.5)   4 h 7 93(S)  7.5 h 12 94(S)   23 h 23 94(S) SRC 1203b 4-Methoxy 500 H₂O:MeOH 60° C.   1 h 41 97(R) (1:1)   2 h 73 97(R)   4 h 99 97(R) SRC 1203c 3,5-dimethoxy 500 H₂O:MeOH 60° C.   1 h 55 85(R) (1:1)   2 h 92 85(R)   3 h 99 85(R) SRC 1230a 4-Methoxy 100 HCOONH₄ 60° C.   1 h 11 97(R) H₂O  3.5 h 20 98(R)  6.5 h 25 98(R) 22.5 h 56 98(R) SRC 1230b 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h 31 97(R)  3.5 h 48 97(R)  6.5 h 54 97(R) 22.5 h 57 97(R) SRC 1234(1) 4-Methoxy * 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h 99 98(R) SRC 1234(2) HCOOH 60° C.   1 h 40 98(R)   2 h 60 97(R)  3.5 h 99 97(R) SRC 1234(3) HCOOH 60° C.   1 h 26 97(R)  2.5 h 52 97(R)   15 h 57 97(R)    rt 67 97(R)   5 h 76 97(R)  9.5 h * n-Hexane (3 × 2 mL) was used to extract product after each cycle from reaction mixture. 1 mol of HCOOH was added to regenerate HCOONa. SRC 1235(1) 4-Methoxy * 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h 99 97(R) SRC 1235(2) HCOOH 60° C.   1 h 99 98(R)   1 h 85 97(R) SRC 1235(3) HCOOH 60° C.  1.5 h 99 98(R) SRC 1235(4) HCOOH 60° C.   1 h 34 96(R)   2 h 64 96(R)   15 hrt 68 96(R)   4 h 83 97(R)   6 h 90 97(R)   8 h 93 97(R) * n-Pentane (3 × 2 mL) was used to extract product after each cycle from reaction mixture. 1 mol of HCOOH was added to regenerate HCOONa. SRC 1236(1) 4-Methoxy * 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h 99 98(R) SRC 1236(2) HCOOH 60° C.   1 h 88 96(R) SRC 1236(3) HCOOH 60° C.  1.5 h 99 96(R)   1 h 20 96(R)   4 h 80 97(R)   17 hrt 88 97(R)   5 h 91 97(R)   7 h 94 97(R)   9 h 96 97(R) * Pet. ether (3 × 2 mL) was used to extract product after each cycle from reaction mixture. 1 mol of HCOOH was added to regenerate HCOONa. SRC 1237(1) 4-Methoxy * 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h 99 97(R) SRC 1237(2) HCOOH 60° C.   1 h 99 97(R) SRC 1237(3) HCOOH 60° C.   1 h 93 97(R)  1.5 h 99 97(R) 15 h rt HCOOH 60° C.   1 h 23 95(R) SRC 1237(4)  2.5 h 53 95(R)  4.5 h 85 96(R)  6.5 h 97 96(R) * n-Pentane (3 × 2 mL) was used to extract product after each cycle from reaction mixture. 1 mol of HCOOH was added to regenerate HCOONa.

TABLE 6 % Substrate Batch no Catalyst S/C Solvent Temp Time Conv % ee

1 SRC 1237 SRC 1193 SRC 1244 SRC 1309 SRC 1295 4-Methoxy 3,5- dimethoxy 3C-tech TEG 4-OMe Cationic complex 100 100 100 100 100 H₂O H₂O H₂O H₂O H₂O 60° C. 60° C. 60° C. 60° C. 60° C.   1 h   2 h   1 h   1 h   26 h 99 >99 99 99 78 97(R) 77(R) 88(R) 97(R) 43(S)

2 SRC 1194 SRC 1196 3,5- dimethoxy 3,5- dimethoxy 100 500 H₂O H₂O 60° C. 60° C.   2 h   1 h   3 h   5 h 99 22 73 99 85(S) 85(S)

3 SRC 1240 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h  1.5 h 88 99 98(R) 98(R)

4 SRC 1241 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h   3 h   5 h   7 h 36 74 93 98 97(R)

5 SRC 1243 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h  1.5 h   2 h 72 98 99 95(R) 95(R) 95(R)

6 SRC 1242 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h   2 h  2.5 h   3 h 53 97 98 99 98(R) 97(R) 97(R) 97(R)

7 SRC 1245 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h   2 h 96 96 98(R) 97(R)

8 SRC 1246 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h   2 h 65 99 96(R) 95(R)

9 SRC 1247 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h   3 h 36 99 99(R) 99(R)

10 SRC 1248 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h   3 h 35 99 97(R) 96(R)

11 SRC 1249 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h 99 96(R)

12 SRC 1250 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h  1.5 h 85 99 94(R) 94(R)

13 SRC 1251 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O 60° C.   1 h   2 h  2.5 h 81 99 99 71(R) 69(R) 69(R)

14 SRC 1261 SRC 1256 SRC 1267 4-Methoxy 3C-teth (S,S) Noyori's catalyst p- Cymene 100 100 100 H₂O: MeOH H₂O: MeOH H₂O: MeOH 60° C. 60° C. 60° C.  4.5 h  4.5 h 15.5 h 99 99 78 94(R) 94(S) 91(R)

15 SRC 1258 4-Methoxy 100 H₂O: MeOH 60° C.   4 h 97 91(R)

TABLE 7 Solv- % Substrate Batch no Catalyst S/C ent Temp Time Conv % ee

SRC 1252 SRC 1254 4- Methoxy 100 H₂O: MeOH 60° C.  4.5 h ~98

SRC 1253 4- Methoxy 1000 FA: TEA 60° C.   24 h NR

SRC 1256 3C-teth (S,S) 100 H₂O: MeOH 60° C.  4.5 h 99 94(S)

SRC 1261 4- Methoxy 100 H₂O: MeOH 60° C.  4.5 h 99 94(R)

SRC 1267 Noyori's catalyst p- Cymene 100 H₂O: MeOH 60° C. 15.5 h 78 91(R)

SRC 1258 4- Methoxy 100 H₂O: MeOH 60° C.   4 h 97 91(R)

SRC 1260 3C-teth (S,S) 250 FA: TEA 45° C.   6 h 93 91(S)

TABLE 8

Temp. Conv. Entry Catalyst H₂ source (° C.) (%)^(a) Ee. (%)^(a,b) 1 A Formic 28° C. 1.3 ND acid:Et₃N 5:2 2 A IPA/KOH 28° C. 0.4 ND 3 A Water/sodium 60° C. 6.5 68.3 (R) formate 4 B Formic 28° C. 0.61 ND acid:Et₃N 5:2 5 B IPA/KOH 28° C. 0.71 ND 6 B Water/sodium 60° C. 32.0 92.7 (R) formate 7 Recovered B Water/sodium 60° C. 4.3 Only 1 from entry 6 formate enantiomer seen by GC 8 B H₂, MeOH 60° C. 13.1 Racemic 9 C Water/sodium 60° C. 16.2 50.2 (R) formate 10 C H₂, MeOH 60° C. 34.5 Racemic 11 D Formic 28° C. 6.9 93.0 (R) acid:Et₃N 5:2 12 D IPA/KOH 28° C. 0.45 ND 13 D Water/sodium 60° C. 26.3 37.9 (R) formate 14 D H₂, MeOH 60° C. 79.4  2.7 (R) ^(a)Determined by GC analysis. ^(b)For conversions less than 2% the ee. was not determined.

TABLE 9

Temp. Conv. Entry Catalyst H₂ source (° C.) (%)^(a) Ee. (%)^(a) 1 B Formic 60° C. 10.8 87.0 (R) acid: Et₃N 5:2 2 B IPA/KOH 80° C. 11.3  2.8 (R) Formic 3 C acid: Et₃N 5:2 60° C. 17.9 82.7 (R) 4 C IPA/KOH 80° C. 35.2 Racemic Formic 5 D acid: Et₃N 5:2 60° C. 5.6 82.8 (R) 6 D IPA/KOH 80° C. 4.6 14.4 (R) ^(a)Determined by GC analysis. 

1.-49. (canceled)
 50. A process for preparing a compound of formula (I), the process comprising the step of reacting a compound of formula (IIa) or (IIb) with the compound of formula (III)

or a salt thereof; wherein R¹-R⁵, R⁶-R⁹ and R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶ are each independently, or in combination with another of said substituents R¹-R⁵, R⁶-R⁹ and R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶, selected from the group consisting of H, halide, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, hydroalkyl, carboalkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylmethyl, acyl, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, thiocarbonyl, cyano, hydroxyl, thiol, alkylthiol, amino, acylated amino, NO₂, silyl, and SO₂R¹⁰, where R¹⁰ is independently selected in each instance from the group consisting of H, halide, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, hydroalkyl, carboalkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylmethyl, acyl, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, thiocarbonyl, cyano, hydroxyl, thiol, alkylthiol, amino, acylated amino, NO₂, and silyl; A is selected from the group consisting of H, R¹¹, SO₂R¹¹, SO₂NR¹¹R¹², SOR¹¹P(O)(R¹¹R¹²), P(O)(OR¹¹)(OR¹²), and CO₂R¹¹, where R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently selected in each instance from the group consisting of H, halide, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, hydroalkyl, carboalkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylmethyl, acyl, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, thiocarbonyl, cyano, hydroxyl, thiol, alkylthiol, amino, acylated amino, NO₂, silyl, and SO₂R¹⁰; B is selected from the group consisting of H, halide, trifluoromethylsulfonyl, alkylsulfonate, trifluoromethylsulfonate, aryl-sulfonate, carboxylate, and acetoxy; M is a metal atom or a metal ion selected from the group consisting of ruthenium rhodium, osmium, iridium, and iron; XX-ZZ are each an independently selected atom or group of atoms capable of forming a stable complex; and at least one of X, Y and Z is present; and each of X, Y, and Z is independently a bond, CH₂, O, S, NH, CHR¹¹, CR¹¹R¹², or a combination thereof, or two adjacent X, Y or Z form unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds or combinations thereof, and the total linear length of the chain defined by X-Y-Z is two, three or four atoms.
 51. The process of claim 50, wherein the reaction is performed in an organic solvent.
 52. The process of claim 50, wherein M is ruthenium.
 53. The process of claim 50, wherein the total linear length of the chain defined by X-Y-Z is three atoms.
 54. The process of claim 50, wherein X, Y and Z each are independently CH₂, CHR¹¹CR¹¹R¹², or a combination thereof.
 55. The process of claim 50, wherein the combined electron withdrawing effect generated by R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶ is greater than that generated by R¹-R⁵.
 56. The process of claim 50, wherein at least one of R¹-R⁵ is an alkoxy group.
 57. The process of claim 50, wherein at least one of R¹⁰¹-R¹⁰⁶ is an electron withdrawing group.
 58. The process of claim 50, wherein XX-ZZ are halides.
 59. The process of claim 50, wherein A is SO₂Ar or SO₂R, where Ar is aryl and R is alkyl.
 60. The process of claim 50, wherein B is a halide.
 61. The process of claim 50, wherein the process is performed with exposure to microwaves.
 62. A compound of formula (IV)

or a salt thereof, wherein R²¹-R²⁵ each independently, or in combination with another of said substituents R²¹-R²⁵, form an electron rich or electron donating group and are selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyloxy, hydroxy, amino, acyl amino, thiol, and alkylthiol; R²⁶-R²⁹ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, halide, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, hydroalkyl, carboalkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylmethyl, acyl, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, thiocarbonyl, cyano, hydroxyl, thiol, alkylthiol, amino, acylated amino, NO₂, silyl, and SO₂R¹⁰; and A, B, M, XX-ZZ, X, Y, Z, and R¹⁰ are as defined in claim
 1. 63. The compound of claim 62, wherein X, Y and Z each are independently CH₂, CHR31 or CR³¹R³², or a combination thereof.
 64. The compound of claim 62, wherein at least one of R²¹-R²⁵ is an alkoxy group.
 65. The compound of claim 62, wherein XX-ZZ are halides.
 66. The compound of claim 62, wherein B is a halide.
 67. The compound of claim 62, selected from the group consisting of

and salts thereof.
 68. The compound of claim 62, selected from the group consisting of

and salts thereof.
 69. A process comprising the step of using a compound of claim 62 to catalyse the hydrogenation of a substrate. 